A series of stunning sunrises and sunsets over Hawke's Bay might be the result of the Tongan volcanic eruption in January according to Niwa scientists.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research has been fielding inquiries from across the country about particularly vibrant skyscapes just before or after the sun crosses the horizon, known as 'afterglows'.
The phenomenon is thought to be caused by aerosols originating from the plume of gas and ash that was ejected when the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted in January.
![Ash from the volcanic eruption of the undersea Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano of January 15 and damage from the subsequent tsunami.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/GYJSB6AZDX4XISR75CPBRWN5YA.jpg?auth=f02682afc816ba696ada50cf8877dff226c32441ce4b7936d6405ce0beed54d4&width=16&height=8&quality=70&smart=true)
Niwa forecaster Nava Fedaeff said stratospheric aerosols change the way that light scatters.