Anomalies of air pressure in Serbia as a result of the eruption of the volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai in mid-January 2022

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the study is to show the anomalies of air pressure registered at meteorological stations in Serbia during the passage of shock waves on January 15 and 16, 2022, as a result of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcano eruption. Based on the assumption that the atmosphere of our planet behaves like a fluid, such and many other disturbances can be detected in any part of the Earth. Calculations have shown that the great circle distance from Belgrade (the capital of Serbia) to Hunga Tonga is 16,952 km. It was further determined that during the passage of the shock waves of such a distant phenomenon in the Pacific, air pressure anomalies, which were not related to the existing synoptic situation (the synoptic situation was stable, the weather was completely clear), had occurred in Serbia. The first stronger eruption occurred at 04:00 UTC on January 15. After the first stronger eruption, the research showed that two main shock waves had been distinguished in Serbia: the first one was registered around 19:00 UTC on January 15, and the second one was registered around 00:00 UTC on January 16. In both cases, in the next 2–3 h (19–22 UTC and 00–02 UTC), barographs at meteorological stations in Serbia recorded a pronounced oscillation of air pressure in a synoptically stable atmosphere. Also, the first shock wave return was noticed on January 17, around 08:00 UTC. Based on the distance and time registration of the shock wave in the form of air pressure anomaly at selected meteorological stations in Serbia, the speed of the shock wave was mathematically determined to be approximately 1,130 km h–1, which is close to the speed of sound.

Keywords

• Volcanic eruption
• Air pressure
• Shock wave
• Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai
• Serbia