Yasuhiro NISHIKAWA

Abstract Sample return capsules (SRCs) entering Earth’s atmosphere at hypervelocity from interplanetary space are a valuable resource for studying meteor phenomena. The 2023 September 24 arrival of the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer SRC provided an unprecedented chance for geophysical observations of a well-characterized source with known parameters, including timing and trajectory. A collaborative effort involving researchers from 16 institutions executed a carefully planned geophysical observational campaign at strategically chosen locations, deploying over 400 ground-based sensors encompassing infrasound, seismic, distributed acoustic sensing, and Global Positioning System technologies. Additionally, balloons equipped with infrasound sensors were launched to capture signals at higher altitudes. This campaign (the largest of its kind so far) yielded a wealth of invaluable data anticipated to fuel scientific inquiry for years to come. The success of the observational campaign is evidenced by the near-universal detection of signals across instruments, both proximal and distal. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the collective scientific effort, field deployment, and preliminary findings. The early findings have the potential to inform future space missions and terrestrial campaigns, contributing to our understanding of meteoroid interactions with planetary atmospheres. Furthermore, the data set collected during this campaign will improve entry and propagation models and augment the study of atmospheric dynamics and shock phenomena generated by meteoroids and similar sources.

Abstract Tsunamis are commonly generated by earthquakes beneath the ocean floor, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. The tsunami following the Tonga eruption of 2022 is believed to have been excited by atmospheric pressure fluctuations generated by the explosion of the volcano. The first, fast-traveling tsunami was excited by Lamb waves; however, it has not been clarified observationally or theoretically which type of atmospheric fluctuations excited more prominent tsunami which followd. In this study, we investigate atmospheric gravity waves that possibly excited the aforementioned subsequent tsunami based on observations and atmosphere-ocean coupling simulations. The atmospheric fluctuations are classified as Lamb waves, acoustic waves, or gravity waves. The arrival time of the gravity wave and the simulation shows that the gravity wave propagated at a phase speed of 215 m/s, coinciding with the tsunami velocity in the Pacific Ocean, and suggesting that the gravity wave resonantly excited the tsunami (Proudman resonance). These observations and theoretical calculations provide an essential basis for investigations of volcano-induced meteotsunamis, including the Tonga event.

Abstract The 2022 volcanic eruption in Tonga caused an unusually large tsunami around the Pacific. It travels with a faster apparent velocity and has larger amplitudes at long distances than what would be expected from a conventional tsunami from the volcanic source. This tsunami was generated by the moving atmospheric Lamb wave and traveled at the speed of the Lamb wave (0.31 km/s). Japanese data showed the amplitude of this first tsunami becomes small when approaching the coast, due to the weaker air‐sea coupling at the shallow depth. This wave split when passing the continental slope, and traveled at the speed of the ocean gravity wave. Therefore, the tsunami observed at the coast is delayed by thousands of seconds from the passage of the Lamb wave. Tsunamis generated by this atmospheric mechanism have not been previously observed by modern digital recording systems and should be considered in the tsunami warning systems.

Abstract Tsunamis are commonly generated by earthquakes beneath the ocean floor, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. The mysterious tsunami following the Tonga eruption of 2022 is believed to be excited by the atmospheric pressure fluctuations generated by the explosion of this volcano. However, it is not clarified observationally and theoretically that which atmospheric fluctuations excited the tsunami. We show the atmospheric waves that possibly excited the tsunami based on observations detected by our own-manufactured sensors in Japan. The atmospheric fluctuations are classified into Lamb waves, acoustic waves, and gravity waves. The arrival time of the gravity wave and atmosphere-ocean coupling simulation show that the gravity wave propagated at a phase speed of 200-220 m/s, coinciding with tsunami velocity in the Pacific Ocean and suggesting that the gravity wave resonantly excited the tsunami (Proudman resonance). These observations and theory provide an essential basis for theoretical investigations of volcano-induced meteo-tsunamis, including the Tonga event.

Abstract On 2020 December 5 at 17:28 UTC, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Hayabusa2 sample return capsule (SRC) re-entered Earth’s atmosphere. The capsule passed through the atmosphere at supersonic speeds, emitting sound and light. The inaudible sound was recorded by infrasound sensors installed by Kochi University of Technology and Curtin University. Based on analysis of the recorded infrasound, the trajectory of the SRC in two cases, one with constant-velocity linear motion and the other with silent flight, could be estimated with an accuracy of ${0{_{.}^{\circ } }5}$ in elevation and 1° in direction. A comparison with optical observations suggests a state of flight in which no light is emitted but sound is emitted. In this paper, we describe the method and results of the trajectory estimation.

Acoustic coupling between solid Earth and atmosphere has been observed since the 1960s, first from ground-based seismic, pressure, and ionospheric sensors and since 20 years with various satellite measurements, including with global positioning system (GPS) satellites. This coupling leads to the excitation of the Rayleigh surface waves by local atmospheric sources such as large natural explosions from volcanoes, meteor atmospheric air-bursts, or artificial explosions. It contributes also in the continuous excitation of Rayleigh waves and associated normal modes by atmospheric winds and pressure fluctuations. The same coupling allows the observation of Rayleigh waves in the thermosphere most of the time through ionospheric monitoring with Doppler sounders or GPS. The authors review briefly in this paper observations made on Earth and describe the general frame of the theory enabling the computation of Rayleigh waves for models of telluric planets with atmosphere. The authors then focus on Mars and Venus and give in both cases the atmospheric properties of the Rayleigh normal modes and associated surface waves compared to Earth. The authors then conclude on the observation perspectives especially for Rayleigh waves excited by atmospheric sources on Mars and for remote ionospheric observations of Rayleigh waves excited by quakes on Venus.