Impact of the Mt. Pinatubo volcaniceruption on the lower ionosphere andatmospheric waves over Central Europe 
Abstract
The very strong volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in June 1991 directly affected the troposphere and lower and middle stratosphere. Here we look at its effects in the mesopause region as revealed by the radio wave absorption measurements in the lower ionosphere over Central Europe and inferred planetary and gravity wave activity.
The gravity wave activity inferred from the nighttime LF radio wave absorption displays an evident enhancement
for waves of periods of about 2-3 h coinciding with regional measurements of the optical depth of (volcanic) aerosols, while there is no detectable effect for short period waves (T < 1 h). There is no detectable effect in the planetary wave activity inferred from the daytime HF radio wave absorption. As for the absorption itself, the results on the impact of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption do not provide an observable effect.
The gravity wave activity inferred from the nighttime LF radio wave absorption displays an evident enhancement
for waves of periods of about 2-3 h coinciding with regional measurements of the optical depth of (volcanic) aerosols, while there is no detectable effect for short period waves (T < 1 h). There is no detectable effect in the planetary wave activity inferred from the daytime HF radio wave absorption. As for the absorption itself, the results on the impact of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption do not provide an observable effect.
Keywords
volcanic eruption;lower ionosphere;atmospheric waves;radio wave absorption
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-3477
Published by INGV, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - ISSN: 2037-416X