The underwater eruption - 1,000 times more powerful than the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima - sent tsunami waves across Tonga's nearby archipelago and blanketed the island's white coral sands in ash.
The strength of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai eruption severed internet connectivity with Tonga, causing a communication blackout at just the moment that a crisis was unfolding.
When the undersea cable that provides the country's internet was restored weeks later, the scale of the disruption was clear. The lack of connectivity had hampered recovery efforts, while at the same time devastating businesses and local finances, many of which depend on remittances from abroad. The disaster exposed the extreme vulnerabilities of the infrastructure that underpins the workings of the internet.
Contemporary life is really inseparable from an operational internet, said Nicole Starosielski, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of The Undersea Network.
Modern consumers have come to imagine the internet as something unseen in the atmosphere - an invisible "cloud" just above our heads, raining data down upon us.
Because our devices aren't tethered to any cables, many of us believe the whole thing is wireless, said Starosielski, but the reality is far more extraordinary.
Almost all internet trafficincluding Zoom calls, movie streams, emails and social media feeds - reach us via high speed fibre optics laid on the ocean floor. These are the veins of the modern world, stretching almost 1.5m km under the sea. Speaking via WhatsApp, Starosielski explained that the data transmitting her voice would travel from her mobile phone to a nearby cell tower. "That's basically the only wireless hop in the entire system," she said.
Esta historia es de la edición August 10, 2024 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 10, 2024 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
"They can't get away scot-free' EFL wants to charge Leicester with PSR breach if relegated
The English Football League wants to charge Leicester over the alleged breach of profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) the Premier League was blocked from pursuing this month, if the club are relegated.
Rodgers’ star on rise again as rampant Celtic extend perfect start
This proved a modern day Celtic Park rarity.
City off-colour as Gündogan's late misses hand dogged Inter a point
Manchester City know only too well how tough a nut Inter are to crack.
Significant ankle damage rules Ødegaard out 'for a while'
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Martin Ødegaard has damaged ankle ligaments and will be sidelined \"for a while\" after the Arsenal captain was injured on international duty.
Salvatore Schillaci, 1964-2024 Italy mourns its goalscoring hero from 1990 World Cup
Tributes have been paid to Salvatore Schillaci after the former Italy forward died at the age of 59.
Captain Brook hands rebooted England licence to entertain
In one sense the five-match ODI series between England and Australia that starts in Nottingham today is slightly lacking in wider context.
'Any free time, I'll go fishing.My missus thinks I'm a bit weird'
Ollie Sleightholme, who is geared up for title defence, explains how angling relieves the pressures Northampton's
Itoje rejects Jones’ claims he is not suited to captaincy
Maro Itoje has rejected claims by the former England head coach Eddie Jones that he is \"very inward-looking\" and not suited to Test captaincy, after being unveiled as Saracens' skipper.
Floods and tears Worcestershire dig deep to shine despite adversity and tragedy
Somerset could still win their first County Championship title, while Surrey remain on for the three-peat.
Remote working Like it or loathe it, WFH looks like it is here to stay
Four years ago when the world of work was upended by the Covid pandemic, confident were made predictions that a permanent shift in remote working would follow the removal of lockdown restrictions.