NASA scientists say mysterious island in the Pacific Ocean is one of only three to spring up in the last 150 years that hasn't been destroyed by waves - and it could be here to stay

A mysterious island that formed four years ago in the South Pacific island nation of Tonga doesn't look like it will be disappearing back under the ocean any time soon, according to NASA scientists.

It's one of only three that has 'erupted in the last 150 years' to survive the ocean's eroding waves longer than a few months, NASA said in its blog.

The new island was caused by a volcanic eruption near the nation of Tonga and sprung up between two older islands known as Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai in January 2015.

It has no official name and is referred to using the combined names of the two islands its nestled between, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai or HTHH.

Scientists only recently set foot on the island.

Dan Slayback of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, visited the island in October 2018 along with scientists and students with Woods Hole's Sea Education Association Semester's South Pacific cruise.

The team took around 150 GPS measurements that narrow down each point's location and elevation to better than 10 centimeters.

A drone was used to take an aerial survey of the island. All the data will be used to develop a realistic 3D model of the island.

'It really surprised me how valuable it was to be there in person for some of this. It just really makes it obvious to you what is going on with the landscape,'

Scientists believe the island will also give them clues about how volcanic landscapes interacted with water on ancient Mars.

Most of the island is covered in 'pea sized' black gravel as opposed to sand. Light-colored clay was observed washing out of the island's cone. The mud is described as very sticky.

'Even though we'd seen it we didn't really know what it was, and I'm still a little baffled of where it's coming from. Because it's not ash,' Slayback said, referring to the clay.

Vegetation is beginning to grow in the area connecting the island to its neighbor.

A few animals have also taken up residence including a barn owl and hundreds of nesting sooty terns.

Small samples have been collected for mineral analysis and will also be used by the team to try and work out just how long the island will survive.

The scientists visit confirmed the island isn't as flat as it seems from satellite.

Although still described by Slayback as 'pretty flat,' there are gradients and patterns caused by waves.

Huge erosion gullies were also observed.

Resource daily mail