New Delhi: The ‘afterglow’ of the Tonga volcano eruption resulted in the people of Antarctica witnessing fiery pink and purple sky. It is claimed that the eruption lead to the creation of a dazzling stratospheric spectacle. Over the last month, a similar phenomenon was observed in New Zealand and Australia and is said to be the aftereffect of the Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption in January 2022. Realising the result of it, the scientists working in the region reported the phenomenon to New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospherics (Niwa).
In an interview with the Guardian, Stuart Shaw, a science technician with Antarctica New Zealand, who is stationed at Scott Base for the winter said, “Usually in mid-winter, Antarctica is nearly continuously dark, except for a slight ‘nautical twilight’ at around midday, which means the horizon is faintly visible in good conditions.” He further stated that this year they witnessed a good amount of this phenomenon. It resulted in the station personnel grabbing jackets and running outside with their cameras to look at the pretty colours of the sky.
Twitterati shared several glimpses of the sky. Take a look:
The sky over Antarctica turned pink due to the January eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai volcano in the Pacific Ocean. pic.twitter.com/AhPwWv0Gp1
— Spriteer (@spriteer_774400) July 17, 2022
In Antarctica, the sky turned pink. All because of the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai submarine volcano in the Pacific Ocean, 65 km N of Tongatapu, main island of Tonga. Photographed from the Russian station. pic.twitter.com/I9CgLVLrec
— Trollstoy (@Trollstoy88) July 16, 2022
In #Antarctica, the sky turned pink due to the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai #volcano in the Pacific Ocean
Scientists believe that the phenomenon led to a sharp increase in aerosols in the stratosphere. pic.twitter.com/2izdomZZHa
— Overall Crypto (@OverallCrypto) July 16, 2022
The sky over Antarctica turned bright pink due to the eruption of an underwater volcano
This effect is caused by a large amount of aerosols in the stratosphere. pic.twitter.com/abTjPdF4LI
— marina alikantes (@Marianna9110) July 16, 2022
Meanwhile, earlier this year the people of China’s Zhoushan city witnessed crimson red skies resulting in panic among the citizens. Several videos of the crimson skies along with thick layers of fog went viral on the Internet. Reportedly, the sky was the reddest near the port area. Reports by Global Times said that people recorded the skies turning red from their houses, balconies, and port areas. However, many social media users termed the phenomenon as a bad omen over the Chinese government’s handling of Covid-19 in the country.
“I have never seen anything like this before. It really amazes me that the sky can even turn red,” a user said, as reported by Global Times.
