LASP Science Seminars

On January 15, 2022, the eruption of a submarine volcano in Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha`apai (HTHH, 20.54°S, 175.38°W) resulted in a volcanic plume that reached a height of 57 km, increasing the total stratospheric water vapor burden by 10% and forming a sulfate aerosol layer. Satellite observations in the summer of 2022 revealed the lowest tropical mesospheric temperatures and highest extratropical mesospheric temperatures observed in the past 20 years. Model simulations indicate that the HTHH volcanic eruption strengthened the mesospheric circulation, leading to anomalous mesospheric temperatures. The models also predict that the water vapor plume injected by the HTHH eruption will enter the polar mesosphere after 2023, and the mesospheric cooling after 2024 will cause a significant increase in noctilucent cloud activity during polar summer. This research highlights the significant impact of volcanic eruptions on atmospheric dynamics and provides insight into the potential long-term effects on the mesosphere.