Eruption of the Hunga Tonga Volcano
Several islands and archipelagos are under the jurisdiction of the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand due to their strategic locations in the Pacific Ocean. Thus, western culture has significantly influenced the traditional cultures of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island, American Samoa, the Hawaiian Islands, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Pitcairn Islands, and the Cook Islands.
Although they continue to be remote, the islands of the Pacific are not as isolated as they once were. Modern technology has promoted globalization even among the independent countries of the Pacific Island realm. This physical connectedness was demonstrated on Jan. 15, 2022, when the Hunga Tonga volcano erupted and triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami that killed five people and caused significant damage to many coastal communities in the Tonga island groups of Ha`apai and Tongatapu (see Animation 10.1).
Animation 10.1 Satellite animation of the initial ash plume and
shockwave on January 15
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency, Himawari-8 satellite images, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunga_Tonga%E2%80%93Hunga_Ha'apai#/media/File:Tonga_Volcano_Eruption_2022-01-15_0320Z_to_0610Z_Himawari-8_visible.gif
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