An astonishing view of the volcanic cloud from the Hunga Tonga eruption (major eruptive phase which started near 4.10 UTC on Jan 15th) from Cloud Top Temperature at 10.3 micron from HIMAWARI-8 near 8.40 UTC. Assuming the volcanic cloud in equilibrium, it suggests that the plume penetrated deep, very deep into the stratosphere. -51C is around 28 km according to a sounding around the same latitude from Willis Island (near Australia) at 12 Z on 15 Jan. However, early SO2 estimates from @SimonCarn suggest a modest 0.05 Tg Injection. It seems quite small....
Looking at OMPS LP curtain plots, I can confirm that OMPS LP detected the first plume on Jan 14 (orbit 34733) at ~18 km and on Jan 15 at ~18km & 21 km (orbits 52946 and 52944) (See attached figures). We might have to wait for tomorrow to confirm the altitude of the second eruption,
Infrasound wave trains from the January 15 Hunga Tonga eruption were recorded in the tropical lower stratosphere by Strateole 2 long-duration balloons flying over the Pacific. The data show 3 distinct wave packets corresponding to the major and following stratospheric injections (see attached figure). For more infos you can contact Aurélien Podglajen, LMD/IPSL, in charge for these data: aurelien.podglajen@lmd.ipsl.fr
5 Comments
Jean-Paul Vernier
An astonishing view of the volcanic cloud from the Hunga Tonga eruption (major eruptive phase which started near 4.10 UTC on Jan 15th) from Cloud Top Temperature at 10.3 micron from HIMAWARI-8 near 8.40 UTC. Assuming the volcanic cloud in equilibrium, it suggests that the plume penetrated deep, very deep into the stratosphere. -51C is around 28 km according to a sounding around the same latitude from Willis Island (near Australia) at 12 Z on 15 Jan. However, early SO2 estimates from @SimonCarn suggest a modest 0.05 Tg Injection. It seems quite small....
ghassan taha
Looking at OMPS LP curtain plots, I can confirm that OMPS LP detected the first plume on Jan 14 (orbit 34733) at ~18 km and on Jan 15 at ~18km & 21 km (orbits 52946 and 52944) (See attached figures). We might have to wait for tomorrow to confirm the altitude of the second eruption,
You can browse OMPS LP curtain plots at its new home https://ozoneaq.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/aerosols/#tab=image&prods=131&view=1, where it is updated regularly.
ghassan taha
Today's measurements of OMPS LP confirm that the second eruption reached ~30 km. Unbelievable!
Jean-Paul Vernier
Thanks Ghassan. This is truly impressive !
Pasquale Sellitto
Infrasound wave trains from the January 15 Hunga Tonga eruption were recorded in the tropical lower stratosphere by Strateole 2 long-duration balloons flying over the Pacific. The data show 3 distinct wave packets corresponding to the major and following stratospheric injections (see attached figure).
For more infos you can contact Aurélien Podglajen, LMD/IPSL, in charge for these data: aurelien.podglajen@lmd.ipsl.fr
Ciao,
Pasquale Sellitto, LISA/IPSL