Global dynamic responses of the atmosphere to the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980

We present evidence that shows some aspects of the global atmospheric dynamic responses to the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. Although events such as volcanic eruptions may excite a number of acoustic‐gravity wave modes in the atmosphere, the observed surface pressure perturbations and distant ionospheric perturbations can be explained only in terms of propagation of Lamb modes with a horizontal propagation velocity slightly above 300 m/s. Results from model computations show good agreements with the observational data. Ground level pressure perturbations created by this event are only slightly smaller than those created by the historical Great Siberian Meteor.