Status: this preprint was under review for the journal NHESS. A revision for further review has not been submitted.
First GPS TEC maps of ionospheric disturbances induced by reflected tsunami waves: The Tohoku case study
L. Tang,Y. Zhao,and J. An
Abstract. The straight tsunami waves from epicenter can be reflected when they reach to coasts or underwater obstacles. In this study, we present the first ionospheric maps of reflected tsunami signature caused by the great 11 March 2011 Tohoku earthquake using the dense GPS network GEONET in Japan. We observed tsunami-like travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) with similar propagation characteristics in terms of waveform, horizontal velocity, direction, period and arrival time compared to the reflected tsunami at the sea-level, indicating the TIDs are induced by the reflected tsunami. The results confirm the atmospheric internal gravity waves (IGWs) produced by reflected tsunami can also propagate upward to the atmosphere and interact with the plasma at the ionospheric height.
Received: 08 Jan 2016 – Discussion started: 26 Jan 2016
Previous studies focused on the ionospheric signature induced by straight tsunami waves. In this study, we apply the two-dimensional TEC maps derived from a dense GPS network (GEONET) to detect the reflected tsunami signature in ionosphere after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. The results indicate not only the straight tsunami waves from mainshock, but also the reflected tsunami waves might have potential to induce ionospheric disturbances.
Previous studies focused on the ionospheric signature induced by straight tsunami waves. In this...
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