Generation of equatorial plasma bubble after the 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption

Abstract

Abstract Equatorial plasma bubbles are a phenomenon of plasma density depletion with small-scale density irregularities, normally observed in the equatorial ionosphere. This phenomenon, which impacts satellite-based communications, was observed in the Asia-Pacific region after the largest-on-record January 15, 2022 eruption of the Tonga volcano. We used satellite and ground-based ionospheric observations to demonstrate that an air pressure wave triggered by the Tonga volcanic eruption could cause the emergence of an equatorial plasma bubble. The most prominent observation result shows a sudden increase of electron density and height of the ionosphere several ten minutes to hours before the arrival of the air pressure wave in the lower atmosphere. After the ionospheric perturbations, plasma density depletion appeared in the equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere. We stress that tracking of such ionospheric signals before the initial arrival of the air pressure wave helps us to predict the arrival and scale of Tsunami.