Identification

Title

Mesosphere and lower thermosphere wind perturbations due to the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption as observed by multistatic specular meteor radars

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.

Resource type

document

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d79g5s1m

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Text

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Resource Type

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

East bounding longitude

North bounding latitude

South bounding latitude

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

End position

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2024-08-01T00:00:00Z

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Limitations on public access

None

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

OpenSky Support

organisation name

UCAR/NCAR - Library

full postal address

PO Box 3000

Boulder

80307-3000

email address

opensky@ucar.edu

web address

http://opensky.ucar.edu/

name: homepage

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact