Surface-to-space atmospheric waves from Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai eruption

Abstract The January 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai eruption was one of the most explosive volcanic events of the modern era 1,2 , producing a vertical plume that peaked more than 50 km above the Earth 3 . The initial explosion and subsequent plume triggered atmospheric waves that propagated around the world multiple times 4 . 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 5,6 propagating at phase speeds of 318.2 ± 6 m…

• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Awards: 80NSSC20K0628, NAS5-03132
• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Awards: NE/P006450/1, NE/S00985X/1
• EC
  European Commission

  Award: 742909
• MO
  Met Office
• NS
  Nuclear Safety and Security Commission
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Awards: NE/S00985X/1, NE/P006450/1, NE/P006450/1, NE/S00985X/1
• HD
  Heliophysics Division