Share with friends and circle of friends with wechat scanning QR code < / P > < p > on February 18, Tonga experienced a violent volcanic eruption in January this year. Satellite images show that volcanic ash reaches the middle layer of the earth's atmosphere. According to NASA, the volcanic eruption was so powerful that the volcanic plume reached an altitude of 58 kilometers from the earth's surface, which is likely to be the highest volcanic plume detected by satellites so far p> NASA explained that it was able to measure the exact height of the volcanic plume because two weather satellites happened to be in the right place at the right time. These satellites can not only take static images, but also observe in the infrared band, and can provide details of volcanic eruptions from above p> < p > it is reported that about 30 minutes after the first eruption of Tonga volcano, the volcanic ash, gas and steam produced by the submarine volcanic eruption rose from the ocean surface to the middle layer. In the second eruption, the height of the volcanic plume was almost the same, reaching 50 kilometers, just between the mesosphere and the stratosphere p> < p > the reason why the volcanic plume can rise so high is mainly due to the superposition of extreme heat from the volcano and ocean moisture p> < p > NASA atmospheric scientist Christopher bedka said in a statement: "it's like the super fuel of a huge thunderstorm." "The plume intensity is 2.5 times higher than any thunderstorm we have observed, and this volcanic eruption produced an amazing number of lightning." p> < p > when the volcanic plume enters the atmosphere, it can actually temporarily reduce the local and global temperature. This is mainly because sulfur dioxide particles in volcanic ash reflect sunlight. However, NASA said that due to the large amount of water vapor in the plume generated by the Tonga volcanic eruption and the low content of sulfur dioxide, it may not have a cooling effect p> < p > the volcanic plume produced by the volcanic eruption on January 15 lasted for 13 hours. However, the aerosols left by volcanic eruptions still exist and may stay in the stratosphere for a whole year p> < p > the volcanic eruption also triggered a tsunami sweeping Tonga. The disaster cut off Tonga's only submarine cable used to connect to the Internet, interrupting local links with most parts of the world for several days. The World Bank estimates that the volcano and the ensuing tsunami have caused great damage to Tonga, and it will cost about US $90 million to restore the status quo, which is equivalent to more than 18% of Tonga's GDP. (Chen Chen) < / P > < p >