Excitation of ULF, ELF, and VLF Resonator and Waveguide Oscillations in the Earth–Atmosphere–Ionosphere System by Lightning Current Sources Connected with Hunga Tonga Volcano Eruption

The simulations presented here are based on the observational data of lightning electric currents associated with the eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano in January 2022. The response of the lithosphere (Earth)–atmosphere–ionosphere–magnetosphere system to unprecedented lightning currents is theoret...

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Main Authors: Yuriy G. Rapoport, Volodymyr V. Grimalsky, Andrzej Krankowski, Asen Grytsai, Sergei S. Petrishchevskii, Leszek Błaszkiewicz, Chieh-Hung Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Atmosphere
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/97
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author Yuriy G. Rapoport
Volodymyr V. Grimalsky
Andrzej Krankowski
Asen Grytsai
Sergei S. Petrishchevskii
Leszek Błaszkiewicz
Chieh-Hung Chen
author_facet Yuriy G. Rapoport
Volodymyr V. Grimalsky
Andrzej Krankowski
Asen Grytsai
Sergei S. Petrishchevskii
Leszek Błaszkiewicz
Chieh-Hung Chen
author_sort Yuriy G. Rapoport
collection DOAJ
description The simulations presented here are based on the observational data of lightning electric currents associated with the eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano in January 2022. The response of the lithosphere (Earth)–atmosphere–ionosphere–magnetosphere system to unprecedented lightning currents is theoretically investigated at low frequencies, including ultra low frequency (ULF), extremely low frequency (ELF), and very low frequency (VLF) ranges. The electric current source due to lightning near the location of the Hunga Tonga volcano eruption has a wide-band frequency spectrum determined in this paper based on a data-driven approach. The spectrum is monotonous in the VLF range but has many significant details at the lower frequencies (ULF, ELF). The decreasing amplitude tendency is maintained at frequencies exceeding 0.1 Hz. The density of effective lightning current in the ULF range reaches the value of the order of 10<sup>−7</sup> A/m<sup>2</sup>. A combined dynamic/quasi-stationary method has been developed to simulate ULF penetration through the lithosphere (Earth)–atmosphere–ionosphere–magnetosphere system. This method is suitable for the ULF range down to 10<sup>−4</sup> Hz. The electromagnetic field is determined from the dynamics in the ionosphere and from a quasi-stationary approach in the atmosphere, considering not only the electric component but also the magnetic one. An analytical/numerical method has been developed to investigate the excitation of the global Schumann resonator and the eigenmodes of the coupled Schumann and ionospheric Alfvén resonators in the ELF range and the eigenmodes of the Earth–ionosphere waveguide in the VLF range. A complex dispersion equation for the corresponding disturbances is derived. It is shown that oscillations at the first resonance frequency in the Schumann resonator can simultaneously cause noticeable excitation of the local ionospheric Alfvén resonator, whose parameters depend on the angle between the geomagnetic field and the vertical direction. VLF propagation is possible over distances of 3000–10,000 km in the waveguide Earth–ionosphere. The results of simulations are compared with the published experimental data.
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spelling doaj-art-10a19b0d71254e8f8fad2849f8dec52b2025-01-24T13:22:01ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-01-011619710.3390/atmos16010097Excitation of ULF, ELF, and VLF Resonator and Waveguide Oscillations in the Earth–Atmosphere–Ionosphere System by Lightning Current Sources Connected with Hunga Tonga Volcano EruptionYuriy G. Rapoport0Volodymyr V. Grimalsky1Andrzej Krankowski2Asen Grytsai3Sergei S. Petrishchevskii4Leszek Błaszkiewicz5Chieh-Hung Chen6Space Radio-Diagnostics Research Centre, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandCenter of Investigations on Engineering and Applied Science (CIICAp), Institute of Investigations on Basic and Applied Science (IICBA), Autonomous University of State Morelos (UAEM), Cuernavaca 62209, MexicoSpace Radio-Diagnostics Research Centre, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandFaculty of Physics, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 03022 Kyiv, UkraineFaculty of Physics, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 03022 Kyiv, UkraineSpace Radio-Diagnostics Research Centre, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandState Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaThe simulations presented here are based on the observational data of lightning electric currents associated with the eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano in January 2022. The response of the lithosphere (Earth)–atmosphere–ionosphere–magnetosphere system to unprecedented lightning currents is theoretically investigated at low frequencies, including ultra low frequency (ULF), extremely low frequency (ELF), and very low frequency (VLF) ranges. The electric current source due to lightning near the location of the Hunga Tonga volcano eruption has a wide-band frequency spectrum determined in this paper based on a data-driven approach. The spectrum is monotonous in the VLF range but has many significant details at the lower frequencies (ULF, ELF). The decreasing amplitude tendency is maintained at frequencies exceeding 0.1 Hz. The density of effective lightning current in the ULF range reaches the value of the order of 10<sup>−7</sup> A/m<sup>2</sup>. A combined dynamic/quasi-stationary method has been developed to simulate ULF penetration through the lithosphere (Earth)–atmosphere–ionosphere–magnetosphere system. This method is suitable for the ULF range down to 10<sup>−4</sup> Hz. The electromagnetic field is determined from the dynamics in the ionosphere and from a quasi-stationary approach in the atmosphere, considering not only the electric component but also the magnetic one. An analytical/numerical method has been developed to investigate the excitation of the global Schumann resonator and the eigenmodes of the coupled Schumann and ionospheric Alfvén resonators in the ELF range and the eigenmodes of the Earth–ionosphere waveguide in the VLF range. A complex dispersion equation for the corresponding disturbances is derived. It is shown that oscillations at the first resonance frequency in the Schumann resonator can simultaneously cause noticeable excitation of the local ionospheric Alfvén resonator, whose parameters depend on the angle between the geomagnetic field and the vertical direction. VLF propagation is possible over distances of 3000–10,000 km in the waveguide Earth–ionosphere. The results of simulations are compared with the published experimental data.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/97ultra low frequencygeomagnetic field linesSchumann resonatorionospheric Alfvén resonatorlightning dischargeHunga Tonga volcano eruption
spellingShingle Yuriy G. Rapoport
Volodymyr V. Grimalsky
Andrzej Krankowski
Asen Grytsai
Sergei S. Petrishchevskii
Leszek Błaszkiewicz
Chieh-Hung Chen
Excitation of ULF, ELF, and VLF Resonator and Waveguide Oscillations in the Earth–Atmosphere–Ionosphere System by Lightning Current Sources Connected with Hunga Tonga Volcano Eruption
Atmosphere
ultra low frequency
geomagnetic field lines
Schumann resonator
ionospheric Alfvén resonator
lightning discharge
Hunga Tonga volcano eruption
title Excitation of ULF, ELF, and VLF Resonator and Waveguide Oscillations in the Earth–Atmosphere–Ionosphere System by Lightning Current Sources Connected with Hunga Tonga Volcano Eruption
title_full Excitation of ULF, ELF, and VLF Resonator and Waveguide Oscillations in the Earth–Atmosphere–Ionosphere System by Lightning Current Sources Connected with Hunga Tonga Volcano Eruption
title_fullStr Excitation of ULF, ELF, and VLF Resonator and Waveguide Oscillations in the Earth–Atmosphere–Ionosphere System by Lightning Current Sources Connected with Hunga Tonga Volcano Eruption
title_full_unstemmed Excitation of ULF, ELF, and VLF Resonator and Waveguide Oscillations in the Earth–Atmosphere–Ionosphere System by Lightning Current Sources Connected with Hunga Tonga Volcano Eruption
title_short Excitation of ULF, ELF, and VLF Resonator and Waveguide Oscillations in the Earth–Atmosphere–Ionosphere System by Lightning Current Sources Connected with Hunga Tonga Volcano Eruption
title_sort excitation of ulf elf and vlf resonator and waveguide oscillations in the earth atmosphere ionosphere system by lightning current sources connected with hunga tonga volcano eruption
topic ultra low frequency
geomagnetic field lines
Schumann resonator
ionospheric Alfvén resonator
lightning discharge
Hunga Tonga volcano eruption
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/97
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