Tonga eruption sent atmospheric shockwaves around the world

GOES-17 high resolution visible satellite captured the Hunga Tonga volcano blowing its top. How high did it shoot? Professor John Peters suggests it might’ve reached the Stratospheric canopy. That’s over 100,000 feet or higher into the vertical atmosphere.

GOES-17 high resolution visible satellite.

Here’s the Infrared channel from GOES-17. Notice the shockwaves –>

GOES-17 Infrared satellite.

The magnitude of the eruption is being called a once-in-a-decade-event. It was so powerful it sent atmospheric shockwaves around the world.

There was more than one atmospheric shockwave. I’ve seen evidence of three separate waves, at different magnitudes, at different times, and traveling at different directions like waves in a pond.

Here’s one shockwave timelapse courtesy Daryl Herzmann.

ASOS atmospheric pressure perturbations, data via NCEI/NWS.

6 thoughts on “Tonga eruption sent atmospheric shockwaves around the world

  1. Craig Biesterfeld

    Chris, I am surprised the shockwave made it around the world east to west before west to east…..is there a west to east record of shockwave on the third graphic?

    1. christomer Post author

      Thanks, Craig. It went in all directions a few times like waves in a pond starting first on Saturday then continuing to bounce around the world on Sunday. Chris

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