Presentation Information
[U09-P32]Simulation of ionosphere-thermosphere variations associated with the eruption of Tonga volcano
*Hiroyuki Shinagawa1, Yasunobu Miyoshi2 (1.National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, 2.Kyushu University)
Keywords:
Ionosphere,Thermosphere,Simulation,Tonga,Eruption
On 15 January 2022 significant ionospheric variations were observed worldwide, which is thought to be associated with the eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai in Tonga. Initial reports suggest that the acoustic-gravity waves generated by the eruption propagated concentrically, driving the ionosphere-thermosphere variations. To understand the mechanism of the variations in the ionosphere, we performed numerical simulations using the whole atmosphere-ionosphere coupled model GAIA and an axisymmetric 3-D nonhydrostatic atmosphere model. In the simulation, sudden heating is given initially in the volcano region. Initial results indicate that a series of concentric waves are generated and propagate outward in the ionosphere-thermosphere, and the thermospheric gravity waves originating from the eruption reach Japan in about 7 hours after the eruption, which is consistent with the observed ionospheric variations. We will report and discuss the results obtained by the simulation.