When Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcano blew its top in 2022, it wasn’t one of the most powerful eruptions in modern history, it literally created waves in space.
The explosion sent towering plumes of ash and gas into the atmosphere for 31 miles (50 kilometers), far surpassing commercial jet cruises and most weather-related locations. But what really blows the minds of scientists? The ripple effect didn’t stop there. All the paths to the atmosphere above our satellite circled the planet continued.
New research Published AGU Advances explains how the huge eruption rattles off some of the planets that most volcanoes do not touch. Using satellite data and atmospheric modeling, researchers tested two causes: lamb waves – pressure waves that “enchant” the surface of the Earth, and secondary gravitational waves produced during the first wave of the wave break the high waves in the sky.
Researchers have discovered that secondary gravitational waves are the culprit. Their fast movement and larger magnitude matched the satellite data the team studied. Essentially, the Tonga eruption produced shock waves, which shook the sky.
The findings complement previous research showing that the eruption of Hunga Tonga Hunga Hahapai gave a subtle earthquake signature, Rayleigh Wave.in front The eruption began and was made detectable by seismometers over 400 miles (644 km). The waves are unfamiliar to humans – were rare and overlooked clues that devastating things could have happened. Together, these studies suggest that large-scale volcanic events not only shake the ground, but also shake the atmosphere from the seabed to the edge of space. Now, scientists are aware that the Earth’s most violent eruptions may leave multiple early fingerprints.
The team’s research reminds us that what happens on the surface of the Earth can even disrupt the edges of space. This is a zone that is increasingly dependent on communication, weather tracking, climate modeling and GPS. The better you understand how such events ripple away from their sources, the more you can protect the technologies you rely on to function here.
