The Mesoscale Gravity Wave Response to the 2022 Tonga Volcanic Eruption: AIRS and MLS Satellite Observations and Source Backtracing

On 15 January 2022, the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted violently. This exceptional event excited a manifold of atmospheric waves. Here, we focus on mesoscale part wave spectrum. About 8.5 hr after eruption strong gravity (GW) was observed in stratosphere by satellite instruments Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and Microwave Limb (MLS) vicinity Tonga. By ray-tracing, confirm as source this GW event. We determine characteristics terms horizontal vertical wavelengths momentum flux. The strength is compared to usual Southern Hemisphere flux values during week. comparable strongest convective events considering MLS, exceptionally AIRS, which observes faster waves only.