The Eyjafjallajökull ash plume – Part I: Physical, chemical and optical characteristics

O’Dowd, Colin; Čeburnis, Darius; Ovadnevaitė, Jurgita; Martucci, Giovanni; Białek, Jakub; Monahan, Ciaran; Berresheim, H.; Vaishya, Aditya; Grigas, Tomas; Jennings, S. G.; McVeigh, Philip; Varghese, Saji; Flanagan, Robert J.; Martin, Damien; Moran, Eoin; Lambkin, Keith; Semmler, Tido; Perrino, Cinzia; McGrath, Ray

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.07.004

Cited by 25 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Indeed, the simulated extinction calculated for the dry Particle Size Distribution (PSD) measured with SMPS and GRIMM was 103 ± 17 Mm −1 . The hygroscopic growth factor during volcanic events was found to be similar to the one of ammonium sulphate (O'Dowd et al, 2011;Wise et al, 2003;Bukowiecki et al, 2011). However pure ash particles are less hygroscopic (Lathem et al, 2011).…”

Section: Mass Retrievalsmentioning

confidence: 70%

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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: Mass Retrievalsmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…Moreover in-cloud sulphate production can contribute to difference between measurement and simulation. O'Dowd et al (2011), measured of the order of 10 µg m −3 sulphate in the plume.…”

Section: Mass Retrievalsmentioning

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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“…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).…”

Section: Case 2: 18-20 May 2010mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the eruption, persistent north-westerly winds over Iceland favoured the spread of the volcanic plume south-eastwards, resulting in the dispersion of ashes over a large part of Europe at about 4-9 km above ground (Emeis et al, 2011;O'Dowd et al, 2012). Remote sensing systems already observed the plume in the free troposphere over Europe on 16 April at an altitude of 3-6 km, but only on the afternoon of 17 April did intense vertical mixing and advection favour the entrainment of the volcanic material down to the ground in southern Germany (Flentje et al, 2010).…”

Section: Plume Transport Towards Northern Italy and Data Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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“…Folch et al, 2012;Matthias et al, 2012;O'Dowd et al, 2012b). During specific episodes, aircraft measurements were carried out in addition to the remote sensing observation data taken by LIDARS, sun photometers, ceilometers, and satellites (Flentje et al, 2010;Ansmann et al, 2010;Emeis et al, 2011;Gasteiger et al, 2011;Schumann et al, 2011;Langmann et al, 2012;O'Dowd et al, 2012a, Wiegner et al, 2012.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time-lagged ensemble simulations of the dispersion of the Eyjafjallajökull plume over Europe with COSMO-ART

et al. 2014

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Abstract. An extended version of the German operational weather forecast model was used to simulate the ash dispersion during the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull. As an operational forecast was launched every 6 hours, a time-lagged ensemble was obtained. Sensitivity runs show the ability of the model to simulate thin ash layers when an increased vertical resolution is used. Calibration of the model results with measured data allows for a quantitative forecast of the ash concentration. After this calibration an independent comparison of the simulated number concentration of 3 µm particles and observations at Hohenpeißenberg gives a correlation coefficient of 0.79. However, this agreement could only be reached after additional modifications of the emissions. Based on the time lagged ensemble the conditional probability of violation of a certain threshold is calculated. Improving the ensemble technique used in our study such probabilities could become valuable information for the forecasters advising the organizations responsible for the closing of the airspace.

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The Eyjafjallajökull ash plume – Part I: Physical, chemical and optical characteristics

Cited by 25 publications

References 34 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

Time-lagged ensemble simulations of the dispersion of the Eyjafjallajökull plume over Europe with COSMO-ART

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