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Title: IMS observations of infrasound and acoustic-gravity waves produced by the January 2022 volcanic eruption of Hunga, Tonga: A global analysis

Journal Article · · Earth and Planetary Science Letters
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [6];  [7];  [8];  [8];  [9];  [10]
  1. CEA, DAM, DIF, Arpajon (France)
  2. BGR, Hannover (Germany)
  3. Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI (United States)
  4. Univ. of Firenze (Italy)
  5. Univ. Clermont Auvergne (France)
  6. NORSAR, Kjeller (Norway); Univ. of Oslo (Norway)
  7. NORSAR, Kjeller (Norway)
  8. Univ. Grenoble Alpes (France)
  9. Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States)
  10. CTBTO (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization), Vienna (Austria)
+ Show Author Affiliations

The 15 January 2022 Hunga, Tonga, volcano's explosive eruption produced the most powerful blast recorded in the last century, with an estimated equivalent TNT yield of 100–200 megatons. The blast energy was propagated through the atmosphere as various wave types. The most prominent wave was a long-period (>2000 s) surface-guided Lamb wave with energy comparable to that of the 1883 Krakatoa Lamb wave; both were clearly observed by pressure sensors (barometers) worldwide. Internal gravity, acoustic-gravity, and infrasound waves were captured in great detail by the entire infrasound component of the International Monitoring System (IMS). For instance, infrasound waves (<300 s period) were seen to circumnavigate Earth up to eight times. Atmospheric waves captured by the IMS infrasound network and selected barometers near the source provide insight on Earth's impulse response at planetary scales.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States); Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE Office of General Counsel (GC), Energy Policy. Civilian Nuclear Programs; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003920; NA0003921
OSTI ID:
1877608
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1878570
Journal Information:
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 591; ISSN 0012-821X
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Figures / Tables (8)

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Fig. 7(p. 9)figure Fig. 7
Fig. 8(p. 10)figure Fig. 8

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Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
Hunga Tonga volcano
infrasound
Lamb wave
acoustic-gravity wave
International Monitoring System
yield estimate