Science Magazine Podcast

Extreme ocean currents from a volcano, and why it’s taking so long to wire green energy into the U.S. grid

Sep 7, 2023

The podcast discusses the aftermath of the Tonga volcanic eruption, including severed seafloor cables and challenges in modeling energy flow in the electrical grid. It also explores the detection and study of underwater volcanic eruptions, the damage to seafloor cables in Tonga, and the potential for predicting volcanic eruptions. Additionally, it highlights the international collaboration in studying ocean currents and the challenges of connecting renewable energy to the US grid, including permission issues and grid overload.

33:28

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Quick takeaways

The Tonga eruption caused fast and powerful ocean currents that severed seafloor cables, highlighting the need for improved cable resilience for future volcanic events.

Problems with modeling energy flow in the electrical grid are slowing down the connection of renewable power projects, and incorporating flexibility in power line capacity assumptions can help overcome these obstacles.

Deep dives

Tonga Volcano Eruption: Underwater Currents and Cable Damage

Researchers discuss the aftermath of the Tonga eruption, including the fast and powerful ocean currents that severed sea floor cables. The eruption broke records, and the study provided insights into how the volcanic debris swept across the sea floor, causing significant damage. The eruption's magnitude surprised scientists, as most underwater eruptions are small and go unnoticed. This was the first field study to explore the direct deposition of volcanic material into the ocean, rather than from land. The researchers plan to further study the extent of these flows, better understand previous eruptions through sediment analysis, and improve cable resilience for future volcanic events.

Introduction

2min

Investigating the Effects of a Volcanic Eruption on the Sea Floor

2min

Detecting and Studying Underwater Volcanic Eruptions

5min

Damage to Sea Floor Cables in Tonga

5min

Predicting Volcanic Eruptions and Understanding Hazards

2min

International Collaboration in Studying Ocean Currents and Challenges in Connecting Renewable Energy to the US Grid

2min

Challenges of Connecting Wind and Solar Power to the Grid

14min

How the Tonga eruption caused some of the fastest underwater flows in history, and why many U.S. renewable energy projects are on hold

First up on this week’s show, we hear about extremely fast underwater currents after a volcanic eruption. Producer Meagan Cantwell talks with sedimentary geologist Michael Clare and submarine volcanologist Isobel Yeo, both at the U.K. National Oceanography Centre. They discuss the complex aftermath of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption, including fast and powerful ocean currents that severed seafloor cables.

Watch a related video on last year’s eruption by Meagan: How the Tonga volcanic eruption rippled through the earth, ocean and atmosphere.

Next on the show, an unexpected slowdown in connecting renewable power to the electrical grid. Freelance journalist Dan Charles joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss how problems with modeling energy flow in the electrical grid are holding up wind and solar power projects across the country.

This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy.

About the Science Podcast

Authors: Sarah Crespi, Meagan Cantwell; Dan Charles

Episode page: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk7170

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