Australian voyage to investigate Tonga’s eruption of the century

August 25th, 2025

A team of scientists from the University of Tasmania, in collaboration with the Tonga Geological Services and other Australian and international partners, has embarked on a 54-day scientific voyage to Tonga aboard the CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator.

The expedition will investigate the impacts of the 2022 eruption of Tonga’s underwater Hunga Volcano, which featured the largest volcanic eruption recorded in over a century, and which devastated the marine ecosystems within 100 kilometres of the site.

The voyage brings together 40 researchers and technical staff from Australia, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, who will carry out more than 120 scientific operations in and around the underwater volcano.