Journal Article

FZJ-2022-02609

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Surface-to-space atmospheric waves from Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption

Wright, C. J. (Corresponding author) ; Hindley, N. P. ; Alexander, M. J. ; Barlow, M. ; Hoffmann, L.FZJ* ; Mitchell, C. N. ; Prata, F. ; Bouillon, M. ; Carstens, J. ; Clerbaux, C. ; Osprey, S. M. ; Powell, N. ; Randall, C. E. ; Yue, J.

2022
Nature Publ. Group London [u.a.]

This record in other databases:      

Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/31901  doi:10.1038/s41586-022-05012-5

Abstract: The January 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption was one of the most explosive volcanic events of the modern era, producing a vertical plume which peaked > 50 km above the Earth. The initial explosion and subsequent plume triggered atmospheric waves which propagated around the world multiple times. A global-scale wave response of this magnitude from a single source has not previously been observed. Here we show the details of this response, using a comprehensive set of satellite and ground-based observations to quantify it from surface to ionosphere. A broad spectrum of waves was triggered by the initial explosion, including Lamb waves propagating at phase speeds of 318.2±6 m/s at surface level and between 308±5 to 319±4 m/s in the stratosphere, and gravity waves propagating at 238±3 to 269±3 m/s in the stratosphere. Gravity waves at sub-ionospheric heights have not previously been observed propagating at this speed or over the whole Earth from a single source. Latent heat release from the plume remained the most significant individual gravity wave source worldwide for > 12 hours, producing circular wavefronts visible across the Pacific basin in satellite observations. A single source dominating such a large region is also unique in the observational record. The Hunga Tonga eruption represents a key natural experiment in how the atmosphere responds to a sudden point-source-driven state change, which will be of use for improving weather and climate models.

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC)

Research Program(s):

1. 5111 - Domain-Specific Simulation & Data Life Cycle Labs (SDLs) and Research Groups (POF4-511) (POF4-511)

Appears in the scientific report 2022

---

Database coverage:
; ; ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Chemical Reactions ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DEAL Nature ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 60 ; Index Chemicus ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record

---