Jeff Lapierre Sonja A. Behnke Chris Vagasky Christopher J. Schultz Michael J. Pavolonis Kristopher Bedka Konstantin Khlopenkov Alexa R. Van Eaton 2023 <div class="article-section__content en main"><p>On 15 January 2022, Hunga Volcano in Tonga produced the most violent eruption in the modern satellite era, sending a water-rich plume at least 58&nbsp;km high. Using a combination of satellite- and ground-based sensors, we investigate the astonishing rate of volcanic lightning (&gt;2,600 flashes min⁻¹) and what it reveals about the dynamics of the submarine eruption. In map view, lightning locations form radially expanding rings. We show that the initial lightning ring is co-located with an internal gravity wave traveling &gt;80&nbsp;m&nbsp;s⁻¹<span>&nbsp;</span>in the stratospheric umbrella cloud. Buoyant oscillations of the plume's overshooting top generated the gravity waves, which enhanced turbulent particle interactions and triggered high-current electrical discharges at unusually high altitudes. Our analysis attributes the intense lightning activity to an exceptional mass eruption rate (&gt;5&nbsp;×&nbsp;10⁹&nbsp;kg&nbsp;s⁻¹), rapidly expanding umbrella cloud, and entrainment of abundant seawater vaporized from magma-water interaction at the submarine vent.</p></div> application/pdf 10.1029/2022GL102341 en American Geophysical Union Lightning rings and gravity waves: Insights into the giant eruption plumefrom Tonga’s Hunga Volcano on 15 January 2022 article