Lidar observation of volcanic dust layers over Sofia

Abstract

Second half of April and beginning of May 2010, were remembered by a big trouble in the airplane traffic over Europe, due to the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland. The volcanic ash propagated quickly in the atmosphere traversing most of European countries. Its trajectories were forecasted and observed by many meteorological stations to prevent unintended consequences of the airplane transportThe lidar stations of the European lidar network EARLYNET-ASOS [1] performed a large campaign of measurements to identify the position, the height above ground level (AGL) and the thickness of the volcanic aerosols transported in the air. It was an appreciable work to update meteorological forecasting and to study volcanic distribution directions, power and sedimentation in continental scale. As partner in EARLINET-ASOS project, Sofia lidar station performed measurements of the atmospheric aerosol profiling which results where quickly presented on the WEB-page of the Institute of Electronics -BAS [2]. A more detailed discussion and comments concerning only Sofia-lidar measurements of the volcanic dust layers observed over the town we present in this work.

Lidar Mapping of Near-Surface Aerosol Fields

“…The measurements described in this chapter were conducted by scanning observation zones in horizontal and vertical directions over Sofia using lidar systems developed at the Laser Radars Laboratory of the Institute of Electronics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (LRL-IE). The LRL-IE working groups actively participate in the joint lidar research over the European continent in the framework of the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network, performing systematic lidar monitoring of atmospheric processes [18,22], unusually high concentrations of aerosols in the troposphere [23], transport of mineral dust from Sahara desert [24], volcanic eruptions [25], and formation of smoke layers resulting from forest or industrial fires [26].…”

Advanced Photonic Sciences

“…Lidar evolution of Saharan dust transported over European continent (Papayannis et al, 2008;Grigorov et al, 2009). Measurements are synchronized in time with the BCS-DREAM model forecasts for dust loadings and transport.…”

“…The eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Island on 14 April 2010 offered an opportunity lidar stations, participating in the European Lidar Network, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the lidar sensing for 4-dimensional characterization of the volcanic ash transport. The lidar monitoring of Eyjafjallajokull plumes spreading by the Sofia lidar station started on 18 April 2010 and finished on 25 May 2010 (Grigorov et al, 2011). Results of lidar measurements, performed on 22 April 2010, by using a CuBr lidar at a wavelength of 510.6 nm are given in Fig.…”

LIDAR Atmospheric Sensing by Metal Vapor and Nd:YAG Lasers

“…The (Grigorov et al, 2011). Results of lidar measurements, performed on 22 April 2010, by using a CuBr lidar at a wavelength of 510.6 nm are given in Fig.7, showing presence of volcanic ash layer positioned at ~2.2 and 3 km altitudes AGL.…”

“…Steel plant pollution region Lidar www.intechopen.com evolution of Saharan dust transported over European continent (Papayannis et al, 2008;Grigorov et al, 2009). Measurements are synchronized in time with the BCS-DREAM model forecasts for dust loadings and transport.…”