Most Intense Volcanic Lightning Ever Recorded: Insights and Implications

Title: Record-Breaking Lightning Storm Unveils New Insights into Tonga’s Hongga Volcano Eruption

Date: June 22, 2023

A groundbreaking study has revealed that the eruption of Hongga Volcano in Tonga on January 15, 2022, produced the most intense volcanic lightning storm ever recorded. The research, led by USGS volcanologist Alexa Van Eaton, sheds light on the evolution of eruptions and provides crucial information for monitoring future volcanic hazards.

During the eruption, more than 200,000 flashes of lightning were observed, with a peak intensity of 2,600 flashes per minute. This unprecedented volcanic storm lasted for at least 11 hours, several hours longer than previously known. The lightning plume reached an altitude of 20 to 30 kilometers (12 to 19 miles) above sea level, making it the flash of the highest altitude ever measured.

Scientists have been utilizing lightning as a tool to gain insights into the ash cloud and uncover new details about the eruption’s timeline. By combining data from sensors that measure light and radio waves, researchers were able to track lightning flashes and estimate their height. The eruption generated over 192,000 flashes, consisting of approximately 500,000 electrical impulses.

Van Eaton emphasized the significance of these findings, stating, “This volcanic eruption created thunderstorms like we’ve never seen before. It turns out that volcanic eruptions can create more powerful lightning than any other type of storm on Earth.” The study’s findings demonstrate the potential of lightning as a tool for monitoring volcanoes and aiding in the communication of ash alerts to aircraft.

The study also revealed four distinct phases of volcanic activity, determined by the height of the plume and the rate of lightning. These insights could lead to better monitoring and real-time predictions of aviation-related hazards during major volcanic eruptions, including the development and movement of ash clouds.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the eruption was the observation of concentric lightning rings, expanding and contracting with time. Van Eaton expressed astonishment at the size of these lightning rings, stating, “We’ve never seen anything like it before, and nothing compares in meteorological storms.”

Furthermore, the eruption style, known as phreatoplinian, was observed for the first time with modern instruments. This type of eruption occurs when large amounts of magma explode through water, and its observation provides valuable information for understanding volcanic processes.

The study’s findings highlight the importance of early detection and monitoring of volcanic eruptions, especially for underwater volcanoes. By utilizing all available remote surveillance, including lightning, scientists can enhance their ability to keep aircraft and people safe.

Van Eaton concluded, “The eruption of Hongga Volcano has provided us with invaluable insights into the behavior of volcanic lightning and the evolution of eruptions. This knowledge will contribute to our understanding of volcanic hazards and aid in the protection of communities living near active volcanoes.”

The study, titled “Lightning Circles and Gravity Waves: Insights into the Giant Eruptive Plume of the Hongga Tonga Volcano on January 15, 2022,” was published in the Geophysics Research Letter.

Reference:
“Lightning Circles and Gravity Waves: Insights into the Giant Eruptive Plume of the Hongga Tonga Volcano on January 15, 2022” by Alexa R Van Eaton, Jeff Lapierre, Sonya A. Christopher Bedka, and Konstantin Khlopenkov, 20 June 2023, Geophysics Research Letter. DOI: 10.1029/2022GL102341.Title: Record-Breaking Lightning Storm Unveils New Insights into Hongga Volcano Eruption

Subtitle: Scientists utilize lightning to unravel the mysteries of the most intense volcanic storm ever recorded

Date: June 22, 2023

The eruption of the Hongga Volcano in Tonga on January 15, 2022, continues to astound scientists with its unprecedented power. A recent study has revealed that this volcanic event generated a “supercharged” thunderstorm, producing the most powerful lightning ever recorded. The research, led by USGS volcanologist Alexa Van Eaton, sheds light on the eruption’s timeline and provides valuable information for monitoring future volcanic hazards.

During the eruption, more than 200,000 flashes of lightning were observed, with a peak intensity of over 2,600 flashes per minute. This remarkable lightning activity allowed scientists to peer inside the ash cloud and uncover previously unknown phases in the eruption’s life cycle. By combining data from sensors that measure light and radio waves, researchers estimated the height of the lightning flashes, which reached unprecedented altitudes of 20 to 30 kilometers (12 to 19 miles) above sea level.

“This volcanic eruption created thunderstorms like we’ve never seen before,” said Van Eaton. “These findings demonstrate the new tools we have for monitoring volcanoes at the speed of light and aid in the USGS’s role in communicating ash alerts to aircraft.”

The study also revealed that the eruption lasted at least 11 hours, several hours longer than previously known. By analyzing the height of the volcanic plume and the rate of lightning, scientists identified four distinct phases of volcanic activity. This information not only provides insights into the duration of the eruption but also helps in monitoring and predicting aviation-related hazards during major volcanic events, including the development and movement of ash clouds.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the eruption was the formation of concentric lightning rings, expanding and contracting with time. Van Eaton and her team were astonished by the size and complexity of these lightning rings, which had never been observed before in meteorological storms. The lightning rings expanded outward in a ring approximately 250 kilometers wide, following the ripples in the volcanic cloud caused by high-altitude turbulence.

In addition to its extraordinary lightning activity, the Hongga Volcano eruption exhibited a volcanic style known as phreatoplinian, characterized by the explosive interaction of magma with water. This eruptive style had previously only been documented in geological records and had never been observed with modern instruments. The eruption of the Hongga Volcano provided scientists with a unique opportunity to witness this phenomenon firsthand.

“It was like taking a dinosaur out and seeing it walk on all fours,” said Van Eaton. “It truly took our breath away.”

The insights gained from this study not only enhance our understanding of volcanic eruptions but also contribute to the development of improved monitoring systems for early detection and real-time predictions of volcanic hazards. By utilizing lightning as a tool, scientists can now better track changes in eruptions and ensure the safety of aircraft and people in the vicinity of volcanic activity.

The study, titled “Lightning Circles and Gravity Waves: Insights into the Giant Eruptive Plume of the Hongga Tonga Volcano on January 15, 2022,” was published in the Geophysics Research Letter.

Reference:
“Lightning Circles and Gravity Waves: Insights into the Giant Eruptive Plume of the Hongga Tonga Volcano on January 15, 2022” by Alexa R Van Eaton, Jeff Lapierre, Sonya A. Christopher Bedka, and Konstantin Khlopenkov, 20 June 2023, Geophysics Research Letter. DOI: 10.1029/2022GL102341.

How does the observation of the phreatoplinian eruption style during the eruption of the Hongga Tonga Volcano contribute to our understanding of volcanic processes

He eruption was the observation of concentric lightning rings, expanding and contracting with time. Scientists have never seen anything like it before, and these lightning rings are unmatched in meteorological storms.

Another significant finding of the study is the observation of the eruption style known as phreatoplinian, which occurs when large amounts of magma explode through water. This is the first time this type of eruption has been observed with modern instruments, providing valuable information for understanding volcanic processes.

The study’s findings underline the importance of early detection and monitoring of volcanic eruptions, particularly for underwater volcanoes. By utilizing all available remote surveillance tools, including lightning, scientists can greatly enhance their ability to ensure the safety of aircraft and local communities.

“The eruption of the Hongga Volcano has provided us with invaluable insights into the behavior of volcanic lightning and the evolution of eruptions,” Van Eaton said. “This knowledge will contribute to our understanding of volcanic hazards and aid in the protection of communities living near active volcanoes.”

The study, titled “Lightning Circles and Gravity Waves: Insights into the Giant Eruptive Plume of the Hongga Tonga Volcano on January 15, 2022,” was published in the Geophysics Research Letter.

Reference:

“Lightning Circles and Gravity Waves: Insights into the Giant Eruptive Plume of the Hongga Tonga Volcano on January 15, 2022” by Alexa R Van Eaton, Jeff Lapierre, Sonya A. Christopher Bedka, and Konstantin Khlopenkov, 20 June 2023, Geophysics Research Letter. DOI: 10.1029/2022GL102341.