An excess of atmospheric pressure energy from the Tonga volcanic eruption disrupted satellite communications, a phenomenon first documented by Nagoya University researchers. The disruption occurred through disturbances in the ionosphere, a layer of the upper atmosphere where solar radiation ionizes air molecules and atoms. Within this region, the highest density of ions resides roughly between 150 and 800 kilometers above the Earth, and those ions influence radio transmissions by reflecting certain radio frequencies back toward the planet. Ionospheric changes can also interfere with satellite links and global positioning systems, particularly when large fluctuations create regions of enhanced density that spawn plasma bubbles.
Researchers Atsuki Shinbori and colleagues investigated how the 2022 eruption of the Tonga volcano sent pressure waves into the atmosphere that later manifested as plasma bubbles in the ionosphere. By analyzing data from the Arase satellite and the Himawari-8 weather satellite, the team observed a plasma bubble forming at low latitudes near the equator, over Asia, in response to the incoming atmospheric disturbances generated by the underwater eruption. The study provides a concrete link between underwater volcanic activity, atmospheric wave propagation, and ionospheric reconfigurations that affect communications infrastructure.
What makes this finding notable is that ionospheric fluctuations were detected minutes to hours before the arrival of the surface and atmospheric waves associated with the eruption. This timing implies that multiple fast-propagating signals can travel through the air and influence the ionosphere well before surface phenomena are felt at ground level. The implication is that current models of the Earths air envelopes need revision to account for the impact of these rapid atmospheric waves on ionospheric structure and radio transmission paths.
The researchers suggest that understanding these fast atmospheric perturbations will help reduce the risk of satellite broadcasting and communications faults triggered by geophysical events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and related phenomena. Enhanced knowledge of how pressure waves interact with the ionosphere can improve predictive capabilities for space weather and support more resilient satellite operations.
Further details on the kinds of atmospheric waves and their global reach, including the January 2022 conditions that affected large areas such as Moscow, are discussed in the cited material from socialbites.ca, which provides context for how such ionospheric disturbances unfold and why they matter for contemporary communications. Citation attribution follows standard scholarly practice for related research in this area.