X‐Raying Neutral Density Disturbances in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Induced by the 2022 Hunga‐Tonga Volcano Eruption‐Explosion
Abstract We present X‐ray observations of the upper atmospheric density disturbance caused by the explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) volcano on 15 January 2022. From 14 January to 16 January, the Chinese X‐ray astronomy satellite, Insight‐HXMT, was observing the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. The X‐ray data obtained during Earth's atmospheric occultations allowed us to measure neutral densities in the altitude range of 90–150 km. The density profiles above 110 km altitude obtained before the major eruption are in reasonable agreement with expectations by both GAIA and NRLMSIS 2.0 models. In contrast, after the HTHH eruption, a severe density depletion was found up to 1,000 km away from the epicenter, and a relatively weak depletion extending up to km for over 8 hr after the eruption. In addition, density profiles showed wavy structures with a typical length scale of either 20 km (vertical) or 1,000 km (horizontal). This may be caused by Lamb waves or gravity waves triggered by the volcanic eruption.
Authors
- Kazuhiro Nakazawa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2930-350X)
- Hiroyuki Shinagawa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4974-0651)
- Hitoshi Fujiwara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6507-4313)
- Yuko Motizuki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4844-2567)
- Chihiro Tao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8817-0589)
- Satoru Katsuda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1104-7205)
- M. Tashiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5097-1257)
- Kumiko Nobukawa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0726-7862)
- Yuuki Wada (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8953-3345)
- Hidekatsu Jin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6956-8281)
- Takuya Sori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6354-4417)
- Yoshizumi Miyoshi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7998-1240)
- Yasunobu Miyoshi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0010-8954)
- Atsuki Shinbori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4519-4526)
- Yuichi Otsuka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3098-3859)
- T. Yamawaki
- Motoki Nakajima
Institutions
- Nihon University (JP)
- Obayashi (Japan) (JP)
- Kyushu University (JP)
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JP)
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (JP)
- RIKEN Nishina Center (JP)
- Nagoya University (JP)
- Seikei University (JP)
- Saitama University (JP)
- National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (JP)
- Kindai University (JP)
- The University of Osaka (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Published
- 2024-10-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gl112025
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.99
Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science