Open AccessObservation of sulfate aerosols and SO 2 from the Sarychev volcanic eruption using data from the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE)
Author(s) -
Doeringer D.,
Eldering A.,
Boone C. D.,
González Abad G.,
Bernath P. F.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2011jd016556
Subject(s) - aerosol , sulfate aerosol , volcano , sulfate , atmospheric sciences , plume , occultation , altitude (triangle) , atmosphere (unit) , atmospheric chemistry , effective radius , environmental science , optical depth , volcanic ash , geology , mineralogy , meteorology , chemistry , ozone , physics , geometry , mathematics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , astronomy , seismology , galaxy
Infrared spectra measured by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE‐FTS) on the SCISAT satellite were used to analyze the Sarychev volcanic aerosol after the eruption in June 2009. Evidence of the Sarychev eruptions was first detected in July 2009 from enhanced SO 2 concentrations and atmospheric extinction. By February 2010, the atmosphere had returned to pre‐Sarychev conditions. In July 2009, the volcanic plume was found between 8.5 km and 17.5 km in altitude at mid‐ and high latitudes (55°N–70°N). The first SO 2 and sulfate aerosol retrievals carried out using the infrared solar occultation spectra recorded with the ACE‐FTS are presented here. The size distribution parameters, the aerosol volume slant column and the composition of the sulfate aerosol were obtained by using a least squares algorithm. The maximum volume slant column of the aerosols was found to be 850 μ m 3 cm −3 km, which results in an approximate aerosol loading of 3 μ m 3 cm −3 . One month after the eruption, the composition of the aerosols providing the best‐fit is a 75% sulfuric acid‐water solution with an effective radius ( R eff ) of 0.1–0.3 μ m.