Extreme Poleward Expanding Super Plasma Bubbles Over Asia‐Pacific Region Triggered by Tonga Volcano Eruption During the Recovery‐Phase of Geomagnetic Storm

P. K. Rajesh; C. C. H. Lin; J. T. Lin; C. Y. Lin; J. Y. Liu; T. Matsuo; C. Y. Huang; M. Y. Chou; J. Yue; M. Nishioka; H. Jin; J. M. Choi; S. P. Chen; Marty Chou; H. F. Tsai

doi:10.1029/2022gl099798

Geophysical Research Letters (Aug 2022)

Extreme Poleward Expanding Super Plasma Bubbles Over Asia‐Pacific Region Triggered by Tonga Volcano Eruption During the Recovery‐Phase of Geomagnetic Storm

P. K. Rajesh,
C. C. H. Lin,
J. T. Lin,
C. Y. Lin,
J. Y. Liu,
T. Matsuo,
C. Y. Huang,
M. Y. Chou,
J. Yue,
M. Nishioka,
H. Jin,
J. M. Choi,
S. P. Chen,
Marty Chou,
H. F. Tsai

Affiliations

P. K. Rajesh: Department of Earth Sciences National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan
C. C. H. Lin: Department of Earth Sciences National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan
J. T. Lin: Department of Earth Sciences National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan
C. Y. Lin: Center for Astronautical Physics and Engineering National Central University Taoyuan Taiwan
J. Y. Liu: Center for Astronautical Physics and Engineering National Central University Taoyuan Taiwan
T. Matsuo: Ann and HJ Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences University of Colorado Boulder CO USA
C. Y. Huang: National Space Organization Hsinchu Taiwan
M. Y. Chou: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Community Coordinated Modeling Center Greenbelt MD USA
J. Yue: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Community Coordinated Modeling Center Greenbelt MD USA
M. Nishioka: The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology Tokyo Japan
H. Jin: The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology Tokyo Japan
J. M. Choi: Department of Earth Sciences National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan
S. P. Chen: Department of Earth Sciences National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan
Marty Chou: Department of Earth Sciences National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan
H. F. Tsai: Department of Earth Sciences National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2022gl099798
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 49, no. 15
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract The Tonga volcano eruption of 15 January 2022 unleashed a variety of atmospheric perturbations, coinciding with the recovery‐phase of a geomagnetic storm. The ensuing thermospheric variations created rare display of extreme poleward‐expanding conjugate plasma bubbles seen in the rate of total electron content index over 100–150°E, reaching ∼40°N geographic latitude. This is associated with fluctuations in FORMOSAT‐7/COSMIC‐2 (F7/C2) ion‐density measurements and spread‐F in ionograms. Preceding to this, an unusually strong pre‐reversal enhancement (PRE) occurred in the global ionospheric specification (GIS) electron density profiles derived from F7/C2 observations. The GIS also revealed a decrease of equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crest density due to the storm impact. Reduced E‐region conductivity by volcano‐induced waves and enhanced F‐region wind, further accelerated by reduced ion‐drag over the EIA, apparently intensified the PRE. Accompanied with the strong PRE, volcano‐induced seed perturbations triggered the super plasma bubble activity.

Published in Geophysical Research Letters

ISSN: 0094-8276 (Print); 1944-8007 (Online)
Publisher: Wiley
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Physics: Geophysics. Cosmic physics
Website: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19448007

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