Title
Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Wind Perturbations Due To the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Eruption as Observed by Multistatic Specular Meteor Radars
Date Issued
01 August 2024
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
Article
Author(s)
Chau J.L.
Poblet F.L.
Liu H.
Liu A.
Gulbrandsen N.
Jacobi C.
Rodriguez R.R.
Scipion D.
Tsutsumi M.
Leibniz-Institut für Atmosphärenphysik an der Universität Rostock, Kühlungsborn (IAP)
Leibniz-Institut für Atmosphärenphysik an der Universität Rostock, Kühlungsborn (IAP)
The Earth and Sun Systems Laboratory
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
UiT Norges Arktiske Universitet
Universität Leipzig
Radio Observatorio de Jicamarca Lima
National Institute of Polar Research
Abstract
Utilizing multistatic specular meteor radar (MSMR) observations, this study delves into global aspects of wind perturbations in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) from the unprecedented 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) submarine volcano. The combination of MSMR observations from different viewing angles over South America and Europe, and the decomposition of the horizontal wind in components along and transversal to the HTHH eruption's epicenter direction allow an unambiguous detection and identification of MLT perturbations related to the eruption. The performance of this decomposition is evaluated using Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere/ionosphere extension (WACCM-X) simulations of the event. The approach shows that indeed the HTHH eruption signals are clearly identified, and other signals can be easily discarded. The winds in this decomposition display dominant Eastward soliton-like perturbations observed as far as 25,000 km from HTHH, and propagating at 242 m/s. A weaker perturbation observed only over Europe propagates faster (but slower than 300 m/s) in the Westward direction. These results suggest that we might be observing the so-called Pekeris mode, also consistent with the L1 pseudomode, reproduced by WACCM-X simulations at MLT altitudes. They also rule out the previous hypothesis connecting the observations in South America to the Tsunami associated with the eruption because these perturbations are observed over Europe as well. Despite the progress, the L0 pseudomode in the MLT reproduced by WACCM-X remains elusive to observations.
Volume
59
Issue
8
OCDE Knowledge area
Ciencias de la Tierra, Ciencias ambientales
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85200483559
Resource of which it is part
Radio Science
ISSN of the container
1944799X
Sponsor(s)
The CONDOR meteor radar system is supported by Grant 1828589 from the U.S. National Science Foundation. CJ acknowledges the funding support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) through Grant JA 836/47\u20101. The Jicamarca Radio Observatory is a facility of the Instituto Geof\u00EDsico del Per\u00FA supported by an agreement with Cornell University, under Prime Agreement AGS\u20102213849 from the National Science Foundation. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. The CONDOR meteor radar system is supported by Grant 1828589 from the U.S. National Science Foundation. CJ acknowledges the funding support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) through Grant JA 836/47-1. The Jicamarca Radio Observatory is a facility of the Instituto Geof\u00EDsico del Per\u00FA supported by an agreement with Cornell University, under Prime Agreement AGS-2213849 from the National Science Foundation. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.
Sources of information: Universidad de Piura Directorio de Producción Científica Directorio de Producción Científica