Impacts of the January 2022 Tonga Volcanic Eruption on the Ionospheric Dynamo: ICON-MIGHTI and Swarm Observations of Extreme Neutral Winds and Currents

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano on 15 January 2022 triggered atmospheric waves at all altitudes. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) and European Space Agency Swarm satellites were well placed to observe its impact on the ionospheric wind dynamo. After the Lamb wave entered the dayside, Swarm A observed an eastward and then westward equatorial electrojet (EEJ) on two consecutive orbits, each with magnitudes exceeding the 99.9th percentile of typically observed values. ICON simultaneously observed the neutral wind (90-300 km altitude) at approximately the same distance from Tonga. The observed neutral winds were also extreme (>99.9th percentile at some altitudes). The covariation of EEJ and winds is consistent with recent theoretical and observational results, indicating that the westward electrojet is driven by strong westward winds in the Pedersen region (similar to 120-150 km). These observations imply that the dynamo is a key mechanism in the ionospheric response to the Tonga disturbance.

Automated summary

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano on January 15, 2022 caused atmospheric waves. Observations from the ICON and Swarm satellites showed that the eruption had an impact on the ionospheric wind dynamo, leading to changes in the equatorial electrojet and neutral winds. These findings suggest that the dynamo plays a key role in the ionospheric response to volcanic disturbances.