This was an aerial capture from an unmanned aircraft viewing Hunga Ha'apai Island in Hunga Tonga Island in the left background.

Water vapor lingers in the air, which contributes to its ability to retain heat. It normally takes around 2-3 years for sulfate aerosols from volcanoes to fall out of the stratosphere. But the water from the Jan. 15 eruption could take 5-10 years to fully dissipate.

volcanic eruption released water vapor to heat Earth

This was possible by a voluntary assistance of the His Majesty's Armed Forces Naval Vessel Ngahau Koula, taking the Tonga Geological Survey Team to observe the sudden explosive eruption observed on Himawari satellite with volcanic ash rising to over 25km into the atmosphere. This occurred suddenly after the volcano had appeared silent for almost 7 days prior. This huge display of gigantic release of energy was expected to be the end of the eruption.

However, it was not to be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4NpOIdV8To&t=9s