Scientists reveal that underwater eruption sent shockwaves into space

April 29,长沙U币客户服务 2025  14:41

In January 2025, the underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano in the South Pacific unleashed an explosion so powerful that it obliterated most of the island and sent shockwaves not only around the globe but all the way into space, according to recent scientific studies (Gizmodo, NASA, AGU Advances). This unprecedented event produced atmospheric waves and secondary gravity waves that rattled the upper atmosphere-where satellites orbit-highlighting the immense and far-reaching impact of one of the most significant volcanic eruptions in modern history.

Secondary Gravity Waves in Upper Atmosphere

When the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption ripped through the ocean and atmosphere, it didn’t just send out a single shockwave-its violent energy fractured into a symphony of secondary gravity waves that rippled through the upper layers of our atmosphere. These secondary waves, generated as the initial blast disturbed air masses and set off further oscillations, traveled vast distances and carried momentum and energy into the mesosphere and lower thermosphere.

What makes these secondary gravity waves especially fascinating is their ability to propagate thousands of kilometers from their source, sometimes avoiding dissipation and continuing to influence atmospheric circulation far from the eruption site. Observations from meteor radars and airglow imagers revealed distinct wave packets with varying speeds and amplitudes, some of which were ducted-trapped and guided-by atmospheric layers, allowing them to reach regions well inland and high above the eruption. This phenomenon highlights the complex and interconnected nature of atmospheric wave dynamics, where a single explosive event can trigger a cascade of secondary disturbances that reverberate throughout the planet’s upper atmosphere.

Atmospheric Impact of Hunga Tonga Eruption

The atmospheric aftermath of the Hunga Tonga eruption was nothing short of extraordinary. The explosion injected an estimated 120–150 teragrams (that’s 120–150 million metric tons!) of water vapor into the stratosphere-an unprecedented spike that boosted global stratospheric water vapor by about 10%. This watery surge temporarily cooled the tropical stratosphere by up to 4°C, triggering changes in circulation patterns and even reducing ozone levels throughout 2025. Meanwhile, the eruption’s sulfur dioxide output was modest by volcanic standards, meaning the usual global cooling from sulfate aerosols was limited and mostly confined to the Southern Hemisphere. The net result? A brief, subtle decrease in Earth’s radiative flux-less than 0.25 watt per square meter-before things returned to normal by late 2025. While some early studies speculated this watery blast might warm the planet, recent research shows the event actually nudged temperatures slightly downward, bucking expectations and reinforcing the atmosphere’s knack for surprises.

Space-Based Observations of Volcanic Shockwaves

Satellites and space missions offered a front-row seat to the Hunga Tonga eruption’s atmospheric fireworks. Instruments aboard NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) and ESA’s Swarm satellites detected hurricane-force winds and dramatic electrical currents in the ionosphere, revealing that the eruption’s shockwaves didn’t just rattle the air-they stirred the very edge of space. The Arase satellite, orbiting at 400 km altitude, directly encountered pressure waves from the blast, while electron density spikes and plasma bubbles were traced up to 2,000 km-well beyond the usual boundaries of Earth’s ionosphere. Satellite imagery also captured the eruption’s colossal umbrella cloud and bow-shaped shock fronts, while GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) data tracked ripples in the ionosphere as they sped around the planet. These space-based eyes confirmed that the shockwaves propagated globally, providing crucial data for understanding atmospheric coupling and even improving tsunami warning systems by detecting ionospheric disturbances in near real time. In short, the eruption’s reach was so immense that only instruments in orbit could fully capture its planetary-and interplanetary-impact.