The news about the eruption of an underwater volcano in the South Pacific island nation of Tonga went around the world on Saturday (the eXXpress also reported). The massive eruption resulted in strong pressure waves that caused tidal waves up to 80 centimeters high and led to a series of tsunami warnings in several countries. Not only that, the volcanic eruption also resulted in an intense shock wave that was measurable around the world—really around the world. Numerous weather stations recorded a sudden increase in air pressure on Saturday evening – and the DACH region, which includes Austria, Germany and Switzerland, was no exception.
According to “Wetter Online”, the air pressure in Berlin between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. suddenly rose within 20 minutes from 1,027.4 hPa (hectopascal) to 1,028.2 hPa. An increase of almost 0.8 hPa. The pressure wave was also clearly measurable in southern Germany and Switzerland, as the Swiss moderator and meteorologist Jörg Kachelmann documented in several tweets.
The pressure wave also reached Austria between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., as a detailed animation (see tweet below) clearly shows. When asked whether the massive pressure wave could also be felt in this country, experts answered with a clear no. Nor was it audible or perceptible in Europe – but it was from its place of origin in the Pacific to Alaska.
Yes, really: In the affected region, the eruption could still be heard 1,000 kilometers away, and according to “Weather Online” it was also in the largest US state, 9,000 kilometers from the eruption site. This is the loudest noise recorded on Earth since measurements began. However, these reports have not yet been officially confirmed.
