The paper «Some Effects of the Shiveluch Volcano Eruption of the 10 April 2023 on Atmospheric Electricity and the Ionosphere» has been published in the Journal «Atmosphere»

The authors are the Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of System Analysis of IKIR FEB RAS, Dr. of Sci. (Phys.-Math.) Smirnov Sergei, the Principal Research Scientist of IKI RAS, Dr. of Sci. (Phys.-Math.) Pulinets Sergei, Senior Researcher of IKIR FEB RAS, Cand. Of Sci. (Phys.-Math.) Bychkov Vasiliy.

The full range of effects of strong volcanic eruptions on the electrical characteristics of the atmosphere is not yet fully understood. On the 10 April 2023, the largest eruption in recent decades of the Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka occurred. At the same time, a sharp increase in electron concentration was observed in the F layer of the ionosphere above the volcano. Simultaneously, at a distance of 450 km from the volcano, an intense anomaly was observed in the vertical component of the electric field potential gradient in the surface atmosphere.

At this distance, the anomaly could not have been caused by a space charge of volcanic ash. The article examines the atmospheric–electrical effects of a volcanic eruption and proposes a physical mechanism for these phenomena. The formation of strong electric field positive jump as result of volcano eruption was confirmed by the consecutive Shiveluch volcano eruption on the 18 August 2024.

The figure shows an ionogram on April 10, 2023, at the time of anomaly occurrence in the electric field of the near-ground air at Paratunka observatory (on the left) and the map of the locations of Shiveluch volcano and Paratunka observatory (on the right).

The full text of the paper is available at link.

For reference: Smirnov S., Pulinets S., Bychkov V. Some Effects of the Shiveluch Volcano Eruption of the 10 April 2023 on Atmospheric Electricity and the Ionosphere // Atmosphere. – 2024. – Vol. 15, № 12. – Article № 1467. – DOI: 10.3390/atmos15121467/