1, acid rain
According to the report, since the initial eruption, the volcano has been releasing sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which interact with water and oxygen in the atmosphere to produce acid rain. Satellite images show that the plume flows westward, which means that Tonga may also be protected from some acid rain, but Fiji may be on this road.
2, fish death
According to Reuters, Tonga's exclusive marine economic zone covers an area of nearly 700,000 square kilometers, which is 1000 times larger than its land area. Most Tongans get their food and livelihood from the sea. The nearby seawater is polluted by toxic volcanic emissions, and fishermen should assume that the fish in these waters are poisoned or poisonous.
And this volcanic eruption is bound to make things worse. Facing the turbid and volcanic ash-filled waters near the volcano, fish can't find food and have no spawning grounds. Scientists point out that some fish will die and the surviving fish will be forced to migrate. Further changes in the seabed structure may also bring new obstacles to fishing boats.
3. Coral "suffocation"
However, before the volcanic eruption, Tonga's coral reefs were threatened by diseases and climate change, including coral bleaching and increasingly strong cyclones. At present, a large area of coral in the directly affected area of volcano may be buried and suffocated by a large number of volcanic ash deposits.
This volcanic eruption will also release more iron into the water, which may promote the growth of blue-green algae and sponges, thus further deteriorating coral reefs.
4. The coastline has been eroded.
The loss of coral reefs will also affect Tonga's ability to cope with rising water levels and storm surges. This is a major concern of Tonga. After all, climate change is causing its sea level to rise by about 6 millimeters a year, twice the global average.
With the volcanic eruption, a sea level gauge in Tonga recorded a tsunami wave of 1. 19 meters before stopping reporting. Tsunamis often lead to rapid coastal erosion. Before Tonga's communication system collapsed, there was a video showing that the artificial seawall was damaged.