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University of South Florida

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Volcanic lightning

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Under The Surface: Pressure-Induced Planetary-Scale Waves, Volcanic Lightning, And Gaseous Clouds Caused By The Submarine Eruption Of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’Apai Volcano Provide An Excellent Research Opportunity, David A. Yuen, Melissa A. Scruggs, Frank J. Spera, Yingcai Zheng, Hao Hu, Stephen R. Mcnutt, Glenn Thompson, Kyle Mandli, Barry R. Keller, Songqiao Shawn Wei, Zhigang Peng, Zili Zhou, Francesco Mulargia, Yuichiro Tanioka Jan 2022

Under The Surface: Pressure-Induced Planetary-Scale Waves, Volcanic Lightning, And Gaseous Clouds Caused By The Submarine Eruption Of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’Apai Volcano Provide An Excellent Research Opportunity, David A. Yuen, Melissa A. Scruggs, Frank J. Spera, Yingcai Zheng, Hao Hu, Stephen R. Mcnutt, Glenn Thompson, Kyle Mandli, Barry R. Keller, Songqiao Shawn Wei, Zhigang Peng, Zili Zhou, Francesco Mulargia, Yuichiro Tanioka

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

We present a narrative of the eruptive events culminating in the cataclysmic 15 January 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcano by synthesizing diverse preliminary seismic, volcanological, sound wave, and lightning data available within the first few weeks after the eruption occurred. The first hour of eruptive activity produced fast-propagating tsunami waves, long-period seismic waves, loud audible sound waves, infrasonic waves, exceptionally intense volcanic lightning and an unsteady volcanic plume that transiently reached—at 58 km—the Earth’s mesosphere. Energetic seismic signals were recorded worldwide and the globally stacked seismogram showed episodic seismic events within the most intense periods of phreatoplinian activity, …


Impulsive Volcanic Plumes Generate Volcanic Lightning And Vent Discharges: A Statistical Analysis Of Sakurajima Volcano In 2015, Cassandra M. Smith, Damien Gaudin, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Sonja A. Behnke, Steven Reader, Ronald J. Thomas, Harald Edens, Stephen R. Mcnutt, Corrado Cimarelli Jan 2021

Impulsive Volcanic Plumes Generate Volcanic Lightning And Vent Discharges: A Statistical Analysis Of Sakurajima Volcano In 2015, Cassandra M. Smith, Damien Gaudin, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Sonja A. Behnke, Steven Reader, Ronald J. Thomas, Harald Edens, Stephen R. Mcnutt, Corrado Cimarelli

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

The origin of electrical activity accompanying volcanic ash plumes is an area of heightened interest in volcanology. However, it is unclear how intense an eruption needs to be to produce lightning flashes as opposed to “vent discharges,” which represent the smallest scale of electrical activity. This study targets 97 carefully monitored plumesJapan, from June 1 to 7, 2015. We use multiparametric measurements from sensors including a nine-station lightning mapping array and an infrared camera to characterize plume ascent. Findings demonstrate that the impulsive, high velocity plumes (>55 m/s) were most likely to create vent discharges, whereas lightning flashes occurred …


Examining The Statistical Relationships Between Volcanic Seismic, Infrasound, And Electrical Signals: A Case Study Of Sakurajima Volcano, 2015, Cassandra M. Smith, Glenn Thompson, Steven Reader, Sonja A. Behnke, Stephen R. Mcnutt, Ron Thomas, Harald Edens Sep 2020

Examining The Statistical Relationships Between Volcanic Seismic, Infrasound, And Electrical Signals: A Case Study Of Sakurajima Volcano, 2015, Cassandra M. Smith, Glenn Thompson, Steven Reader, Sonja A. Behnke, Stephen R. Mcnutt, Ron Thomas, Harald Edens

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Sakurajima volcano in Japan is known for frequent eruptions containing prolific volcanic lightning. Previous studies from eruptions at Redoubt have shown preliminary correlations between seismic, infrasound, and radio frequency signals. This study uses field data collected at Sakurajima from 28 May–7 June 2015 and multivariable statistical modeling to quantify these relationships. We build regression equations to examine each of the following parameters of electrical activity: (1) the presence of electrical activity, (2) the presence of the radio frequency signal called continual radio frequency impulses (CRF), (3) the presence of lightning, (4) the overall duration of electrical activity, and (5) the …


Investigating The Origin Of Continual Radio Frequency Impulses During Explosive Volcanic Eruptions, S. A. Behnke, H. E. Edens, R. J. Thomas, C. M. Smith, Stephen R. Mcnutt, A. R. Van Eaton, C. Cimarelli, V. Cigala Apr 2018

Investigating The Origin Of Continual Radio Frequency Impulses During Explosive Volcanic Eruptions, S. A. Behnke, H. E. Edens, R. J. Thomas, C. M. Smith, Stephen R. Mcnutt, A. R. Van Eaton, C. Cimarelli, V. Cigala

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Volcanic lightning studies have revealed that there is a relatively long‐lasting source of very high frequency radiation associated with the onset of explosive volcanic eruptions that is distinct from radiation produced by lightning. This very high frequency signal is referred to as “continual radio frequency (CRF)” due to its long‐lasting nature. The discharge mechanism producing this signal was previously hypothesized to be caused by numerous, small (10–100 m) leader‐forming discharges near the vent of the volcano. To test this hypothesis, a multiparametric data set of electrical and volcanic activity occurring during explosive eruptions of Sakurajima Volcano in Japan was collected …


Spectacular Lightning Revealed In 2009 Mount Redoubt Eruption, Sonja A. Behnke, Ronald J. Thomas, Paul R. Krehbiel, Stephen R. Mcnutt May 2012

Spectacular Lightning Revealed In 2009 Mount Redoubt Eruption, Sonja A. Behnke, Ronald J. Thomas, Paul R. Krehbiel, Stephen R. Mcnutt

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

The explosive eruption of Alaska's Mount Redoubt volcano in March and April 2009 provided a superb opportunity for studying volcanic lightning. The energetic explosions produced powerful volcanic lightning storms, the largest of which rivaled the intensity of the massive supercell thunderstorms that frequent the midwestern Great Plains. Although lightning often has been observed in the plumes of explosive volcanic eruptions, only a handful of detailed studies have delved into the origins of volcanic lightning. Active volcanoes tend to be situated in remote locations, where they are difficult to observe, and often have sudden, unpredicted eruptions. Even when the eruptions are …