Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash in southern Italy

Lettino, Antonio; Caggiano, Rosa; Fiore, Saverio; Macchiato, M.; Sabia, Serena; Trippetta, Serena

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.05.037

Cited by 40 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Additionally, hygroscopicity was also investigated and reveals that ash uptakes water efficiently via adsorption (Lathem et al, 2011). Other high-altitude stations recorded ash episodes combined with sulphuric dioxide and sulphuric acid enhancements in Germany (Flentje et al, 2010;Schäfer et al, 2011) while at sea-level, measurement stations also detected ashes (Lettino et al, 2012;Pitz et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical and optical properties of 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption aerosol: ground-based, Lidar and airborne measurements in France

et al. 2012

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Abstract. During the Eyjafjallajökull eruption (14 April to 24 May 2010), the volcanic aerosol cloud was observed across Europe by several airborne in situ and ground-based remote-sensing instruments. On 18 and 19 May, layers of depolarizing particles (i.e. non-spherical particles) were detected in the free troposphere above the Puy de Dôme station, (PdD, France) with a Rayleigh-Mie LIDAR emitting at a wavelength of 355 nm, with parallel and crossed polarization channels. These layers in the free troposphere (FT) were also well captured by simulations with the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART, which furthermore showed that the ash was eventually entrained into the planetary boundary layer (PBL). Indeed, the ash cloud was then detected and characterized with a comprehensive set of in situ instruments at the Puy de Dôme station (PdD). In agreement with the FLEXPART simulation, up to 65 µg m −3 of particle mass and 2.2 ppb of SO 2 were measured at PdD, corresponding to concentrations higher than the 95 percentile of 2 yr of measurements at PdD. Moreover, the number concentration of particles increased to 24 000 cm −3 , mainly in the submicronic mode, but a supermicronic mode was also detected with a modal diameter of 2 µm. The resulting optical properties of the ash aerosol were characterized by a low scatteringÅngström exponent (0.98), showing the presence of supermicronic particles. For the first time to our knowledge, the combination of in situ optical and physical characterization of the volcanic ash allowed the calculation of the mass-to-extinction ratio (η) with no assumptions on the aerosol density. The mass-to-extinction ratio was found to be significantly different from the background boundary layer aerosol (max: 1.57 g m −2 as opposed to 0.33 ± 0.03 g m −2 ). Using this ratio, ash mass concentration in the volcanic plume derived from LIDAR measurements was found to be 655 ± 23 µg m −3 when the plume was located in the FT (3000 m above the sea level -a.s.l.).This ratio could also be used to retrieve an aerosol mass concentration of 579 ± 60 µg m −3 on 19 April, when LIDAR observations detected the ash cloud at 3000 m a.s.l. in correspondence with model simulations (FLEXPART). On 22 April, another ash plume entered the BL, and although it was more diluted than during the May episode, the French research aircraft ATR42 that passed over Clermont-Ferrand in the PBL confirmed the presence of particles with a supermicronic mode, again with a modal diameter at 2 µm.This data set combining airborne, ground-based and remote sensing observations with dispersion model simulations shows an overall very good coherence during the volcanic eruption period, which allows a good confidence in the characteristics of the ash particles that can be derived from this unique data set.Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. M. Hervo et al.: Ground-based, Lidar and airborne measurements of volcanic ashes in France

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical and optical properties of 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption aerosol: ground-based, Lidar and airborne measurements in France

et al. 2012

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“…The transport to the south during this first approach of the plume was almost completely blocked by the Alps and by a lowpressure zone over northern Italy (Pappalardo et al, 2013;Trickl et al, 2013). Thus, the air mass resided over central Europe for several days, until 19 April when a redistribution of aged volcanic aerosol occurred from west to east and from north to south, at which time the plume was observed over Italy for the first time Lettino et al, 2012;Rossini et al, 2012;Belosi et al, 2011;Campanelli et al, 2012;Perrone et al, 2012). These changes in weather patterns were also discernible at CMN, where wind direction turned from northerly (on 17 April) to southerly (on 18 April) and eventually to northerly (on 19 April) (Fig.…”

Section: Plume Transport Towards Northern Italy and Data Overviewmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…1b), probably resulting from the condensation of H 2 SO 4 on the surface of mineral particles, as confirmed by SEM observations performed by other authors (Lettino et al, 2012;O'Dowd et al, 2012). Lettino et al (2012) undertook SEM analyses of particles collected during the volcanic plume in Rimini, Italy (150 km East of CMN). They observed in the coarse fraction the presence not only of mineral Ca-sulphates (gypsum) but also secondary particles morphologically similar to those constituting the fine fraction, i.e.…”

Section: Case 2: 18-20 May 2010mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Pappalardo et al, 2013;Ansmann et al, 2010;Flentje et al, 2010;Madonna et al, 2010;Mona et al, 2012;Schumann et al, 2011;Schäfer et al, 2011). However, the chemical composition of aerosol from airborne measurements Bukowiecki et al, 2011;Rauthe-Schöch et al, 2012;Andersson et al, 2013) or from ground-level samplings (Revuelta et al, 2012;Schleicher et al, 2012;Lettino et al, 2012;Beeston et al, 2012;Bukowiecki et al, 2011;Colette et al, 2011) were derived in a few cases only.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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In situ physical and chemical characterisation of the Eyjafjallajökull aerosol plume in the free troposphere over Italy

et al. 2014

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Abstract. Continuous measurements of physical and chemical properties at the Mt. Cimone (Italy) GAW-WMO (Global Atmosphere Watch, World Meteorological Organization) Global Station (2165 m a.s.l.) have allowed the detection of the volcanic aerosol plume resulting from the Eyjafjallajökull (Iceland) eruption of spring 2010. The event affected the Mt. Cimone site after a transport over a distance of more than 3000 km. Two main transport episodes were detected during the eruption period, showing a volcanic fingerprint discernible against the free tropospheric background conditions typical of the site, the first from April 19 to 21 and the second from 18 to 20 May 2010. This paper reports the modification of aerosol characteristics observed during the two episodes, both characterised by an abrupt increase in fine and, especially, coarse mode particle number.Analysis of major, minor and trace elements by different analytical techniques (ionic chromatography, particle induced X-ray emission-particle induced gamma-ray emission (PIXE-PIGE) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)) were performed on aerosols collected by ground-level discrete sampling. The resulting database allows the characterisation of aerosol chemical composition during the volcanic plume transport and in background conditions. During the passage of the volcanic plume, the fine fraction was dominated by sulphates, denoting the secondary origin of this mode, mainly resulting from in-plume oxidation of volcanic SO 2 . By contrast, the coarse fraction was characterised by increased concentration of numerous elements of crustal origin, such as Fe, Ti, Mn, Ca, Na, and Mg, which enter the composition of silicate minerals. Data analysis of selected elements (Ti, Al, Fe, Mn) allowed the estimation of the volcanic plume's contribution to total PM 10 , resulting in a local enhancement of up to 9.5 µg m −3 , i.e. 40 % of total PM 10 on 18 May, which was the most intense of the two episodes. These results appear significant, especially in light of the huge distance of Mt. Cimone from the source, confirming the widespread diffusion of the Eyjafjallajökull ashes over Europe.

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“…7c was likely due to the impact of volcanic aerosol at ground. In situ measurements performed by Lettino et al (2012) over southern Italy and by Rossini et al (2012) over central Italy have also revealed the surface impact of volcanic particles with radius r > 1 µm. PM 1 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1 µm) and PM 2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm) samples were also collected at the lidar site from 21 to 24 April.…”

Section: Unile Lidar Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of measurements and model simulations to characterize Eyjafjallajökull volcanic aerosols over south-eastern Italy

et al. 2012

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Abstract. Volcanic aerosols resulting from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption were detected in south-eastern Italy from 20 to 22 April 2010, at a distance of approximately 4000 km from the volcano, and have been characterized by lidar, sun/sky photometer, and surface in-situ measurements. Volcanic particles added to the pre-existing aerosol load and measurement data allow quantifying the impact of volcanic particles on the aerosol vertical distribution, lidar ratios, the aerosol size distribution, and the ground-level particulate-matter concentrations. Lidar measurements reveal that backscatter coefficients by volcanic particles were about one order of magnitude smaller over south-eastern Italy than over Central Europe. Mean lidar ratios at 355 nm were equal to 64 ± 5 sr inside the volcanic aerosol layer and were characterized by smaller values (47 ±2 sr) in the underlying layer on 20 April, 19:30 UTC. Lidar ratios and their dependence with the height reduced in the following days, mainly because of the variability of the volcanic particle contributions. Size distributions from sun/sky photometer measurements reveal the presence of volcanic particles with radii r > 0.5 µm on 21 April and that the contribution of coarse volcanic particles increased from 20 to 22 April. The aerosol fine mode fraction from sun/sky photometer measurements varied between values of 0.85 and 0.94 on 20 April and decreased to values between 0.25 and 0.82 on 22 April. Surface measurements of particle size distributions were in good accordance with column averaged particle size distributions from sun/sky photometer measurements. PM 1 /PM 2.5 mass concentration ratios of 0.69, 0.66, and 0.60 on 20, 21, and 22 April, respectively, support the increase of super-micron particles at ground. Measurements from the Regional Air Quality Agency show that PM 10 mass concentrations on 20, 21, and 22 April 2010 were enhanced in the entire Apulia Region. More specifically, PM 10 mass concentrations have on average increased over Apulia Region 22 %, 50 %, and 28 % on 20, 21, and 22 April, respectively, compared to values on 19 April. Finally, the comparison of measurement data with numerical simulations by the FLEXPART dispersion model demonstrates the ability of FLEXPART to model the advection of the volcanic ash over the 4000 km from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano to Southern Italy.

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Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash in southern Italy

Cited by 40 publications

References 27 publications

Physical and optical properties of 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption aerosol: ground-based, Lidar and airborne measurements in France

Physical and optical properties of 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption aerosol: ground-based, Lidar and airborne measurements in France

In situ physical and chemical characterisation of the Eyjafjallajökull aerosol plume in the free troposphere over Italy

Integration of measurements and model simulations to characterize Eyjafjallajökull volcanic aerosols over south-eastern Italy

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