Volcanic (Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai) eruption in Tonga, near Nuku'alofa

[Astronuc]

The same volcano which erupted out of the Pacific Ocean, 63 kilometres north of Nuku'alofa in 2009, creating an island. We somehow missed this in 2009.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunga_Tonga
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Tonga_undersea_volcanic_eruption

20°34′S 175°23′W / 20.57°S 175.38°W


http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/64548453/Big-volcanic-eruption-near-Tongas-capital
http://matangitonga.to/2014/12/30/hunga-haapai-eruption-continues

http://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=243040

It looks like that island, or volcano, is getting bigger.

http://www.vulkaner.no/v/volcan/submarin/hunga.html
Cool video of 2009 eruption.

 

[Bystander]

Time to crank up "historical imagery" in Google Earth.

 

[mfb]

Known as the Hunga Ha'apai volcano, Matangi Tonga says it may have been erupting for more than a week.

I didn't know volcano eruptions could happen without anyone noting it for a week.

 

[davenn]

I didn't know volcano eruptions could happen without anyone noting it for a week.

It was noted by locals , obviously just not widely publicised

Known as the Hunga Ha'apai volcano, Matangi Tonga says it may have been erupting for more than a week.
The eruption was first reported by a fisherman who came back from the area on December 19, according to the Deputy Secretary of Lands and Natural Resources, Taniela Kula.

my bold

 

[Bystander]

Looked it over with Google Earth just for a "big picture" context of a major geological event; floods and landslides make obvious major changes when comparing photos from different dates, so this should be dramatic, right? Got a couple photos of "steam" from fissures drifting downwind that look like a smoldering dump fire, no dramatic change of reef structures. This is a little bitty event.