Geophysical Effects of the Tonga Volcano Explosion on January 15, 2022
Л. Ф. Черногор
Abstract
Summary The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano on January 15, 2022 was the largest recorded since the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. The parameters of its explosion are comparable to the parameters of the explosions of a number of large volcanoes. Five explosions of the underwater Tonga volcano took place over the 04:00–05:02 UT period. The most powerful explosion occurred at about 04:15 UT. The eruption lasted for 12±2 h during which 2.9 Gt of rock occupying 1.9 cubic kilometers volume was thrown out. The plume from this explosion reached a peak height of 58 km into the mesosphere at a mean speed of 33 m/s. The results of the comprehensive analysis and modeling of the physical effects in the Earth-atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere (EAIM) system, which have been generated by the explosion of the Tonga super-volcano on January 15, 2022. Quasi-sinusoidal and aperiodic perturbations have been revealed in all components of the EAIM system, and their mechanisms have been analyzed. The energetics of waves of various kinds and of the perturbations in the geophysical fields has turned out to be sufficient to maintain the longterm and global restructuring of coupling between the subsystems in the EAIM system.