Effect of Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha’apai Volcanic Eruptions on Atmospheric Pressure

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the fluctuation in atmospheric pressure caused by the volcanic eruption of Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha’apai volcano on January 15, 2022, at 04:14 UTC. In the study, it was predicted that the wave created by the explosion would move at a constant speed of sound and it was calculated that it would arrive in Türkiye in 13 hours and 22 minutes. According to this situation, it was calculated that the first lamb wave could come to Türkiye as of 15 January 2022 17:36 UTC. In the second stage, 1 minute pressure data of 12 Meteorological Station (Automated Weather Observation System, AWOS) in Türkiye was analyzed. In the analyzes and evaluations made, a sharp upward movement was observed in the pressure measured at 18:38 on January 15, 2022, at the Van Meteorology Station, which is the easternmost station. It was calculated that the lamb wave arrived at this station at an average speed of 303.2 m/s in 15.1 hours.

Keywords

• volcanic eruption
• atmospheric pressure