January 15, 2022 eruption underwater volcano hanga tonga It’s not just about breaking records. Its majestic eruption, associated with the tsunami that ravaged the Pacific, and the numerous lightning bolts formed in the gas column, fascinated the scientific community. But there was more: the explosion caused a huge disturbance in the atmosphere The so-called meteotsunami, which has not occurred for more than 130 years.
This is explained in a study published in the journalism by a group of researchers from IEO-CSIC’s Balearic Islands Oceanographic Center, University of the Balearic Islands and IMEDEA. Scientific Reports, Here they studied the characteristics of this strange phenomenon that has only been captured once more in modern history: after the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in 1883.
The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on January 15, 2022 produced an atmospheric and oceanic response recorded by an unprecedented number of sensors. The explosion caused Atmospheric disturbance traveling the Earth at the speed of sound and circling the planet up to three times in a row. This disturbance has been recorded by hundreds of barographers around the world as an energy spike in the high frequency band (2 to 120 minutes).
At the same time, most of the planet’s tidal indicators were recorded, significant oscillations at sea level in the tsunami frequency band at each step of the atmospheric wave. (from 2 to 120 minutes). These features make it worth defining itself as a global meteotsunami.
“The Tonga example shows us two phenomena: a tsunami originating from the location of the blast that spread to the Pacific coast, and a meteotsunami produced around the world by the atmospheric wave produced in the blast,” concludes first author Joan Villalonga, first author. of your study.
The largest waves, in some cases exceeding one meter, occurred off the coast of the Pacific Ocean, pushed by the sea wave that formed around the volcano during the eruption. Then, Sea level changes in the Pacific Ocean were caused by both the tsunami and this meteotsunami.
However, meteotsunami did not have only a local effect. Although the waves produced were very different (both in amplitude and frequency) in different parts of the world, the oscillation affected the rest of the world.
What is the difference between a tsunami and a meteotsunami?
A tsunami from the shore and a meteotsunami are very similar events. Both generate oscillations at sea level every 2 minutes and every 2 hours. The difference lies in how they are produced.
Tsunamis have local sources such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions that create disturbances that can travel long distances at sea. However, meteotsunamis are produced by a rapid change in atmospheric pressure, which creates a wave in the sea. These However, atmospheric events do not become as energetic as earthquakes or volcanoes.Therefore, meteotsunamis require certain physical mechanisms that empower them.
For example, To amplify the effects of atmospheric disturbance, resonance events must occur in ports and bays. In addition, the potential size of tsunamis is much greater than meteotsunamis, although meteotsunamis can be very damaging, as with some. laughing From the port of Ciutadella (Menorca).
Reference work: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-35800-6
……
Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]