Fig. 2: Formation of air-pressure wave and oceanic tsunami.
From: A coupled atmosphere-ocean source mechanism was a predictor of the 2022 Tonga volcanic tsunami
a Schematic of the coupled atmosphere-ocean source mechanism during the volcanic eruption. The brown cylinder, 4 km in diameter and 800 m deep, presents the crater formed by the volcanic ejection of water, gases, and magma into the atmosphere. The red arrows indicate the mass gained by the atmosphere and the resulting air expansion that triggers air-pressure waves. The blue arrows show water velocity as it fills the oceanic cavity, generating the tsunami. b Depth-averaged air velocity, depicted by red arrows, illustrates the lateral blast as air radiates away from the crater. The background color corresponds to the air pressure anomaly (lower pressure) one minute after initialization. c Depth-averaged water velocity, represented by red arrows, shows the influx of ocean water toward the crater. The background color reflects the sea level anomaly (higher sea level) one minute after initialization.
