Characterizing sea level and barometric disturbances in the Caribbean and adjacent regions from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai 2022 eruption

ABSTRACT The Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai eruption of January 15th, 2022, was a rare geological event, resulting in atmospheric pressure waves being recorded around the world, along with sea level fluctuations. This research aims to analyze the tsunami and pressure waves observed in the Caribbean and adjacent regions, which were generated by this eruption. These kinds of perturbations are uncommon and have not been seen in many occurrences, let alone with global implications. Modern instrumentation in the Caribbean and adjacent regions, including both barometers and sea level stations, provided a unique opportunity to observe and analyze this event. A comprehensive review of the observations recorded in the Caribbean and adjacent regions linking the barometric observations to sea level perturbations, including observations of the lead/lag relative to the barometric pressure spikes and the frequency content of observable sea level perturbations, will be shown in this study. For instance, most of the stations in this study recorded six barometric spikes, of which the first two generated a significant sea level observation. Circumstances complicating observations, such as interference from factors, e.g. a strong cold front and lack of standardization, will also be discussed. This study, which will integrate observations from across the Caribbean and adjacent regions, aims to better understand the nature of this unique event and how it was observed in the region. As such, this research can offer insight into the factors that may influence volcanic tsunamis, which is invaluable for developing tsunami warning and response protocols.