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How Does a Pinatubo‐Size Volcanic Cloud Reach the Middle Stratosphere?
Author(s) -
Stenchikov Georgiy,
Ukhov Alexander,
Osipov Sergey,
Ahmadov Ravan,
Grell Georg,
CadyPereira Karen,
Mlawer Eli,
Iacono Michael
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1029/2020jd033829
Subject(s) - volcano , volcanic ash , atmospheric sciences , stratosphere , tropopause , sulfate aerosol , water vapor , aerosol , geology , radiative transfer , environmental science , earth science , climatology , volcanic gases , meteorology , geochemistry , geography , physics , quantum mechanics
Volcanic explosions are the most critical replenishing mechanism of the stratospheric aerosol Junge layer. A fresh volcanic cloud comprises mostly sulfur‐bearing gases, volcanic ash, and water vapor. It is commonly assumed that only sulfate aerosols remain in an aged volcanic cloud. Accurate simulation of the initial evolution of multicomponent fresh volcanic clouds is largely missing due to insufficient spatial resolution and a lack of relevant physics in global climate models. However, this initial stage is essential, as the vertical structure, composition, and altitude of a freshly developed volcanic cloud affect its long‐term evolution. To fill this gap, we modified a regional WRF‐Chem model to study the dispersion of a Pinatubo‐size volcanic cloud in the equatorial belt with a 25 km grid spacing explicitly accounting for the SO 2 , ash, sulfate, water vapor, and hydrometeors radiative effects. The model best reproduces the observed evolution of the Pinatubo optical depth when eruptive products are injected above the cold tropical tropopause at 17 km. During the first week, the volcanic cloud in our simulations rises 1 km/day. Ash is primarily responsible for the heating and lofting of the volcanic products. Radiative heating of SO 2 is weaker than that of ash and sulfate but is sufficient to position the core of the SO 2 layer 1–2 km above the sulfate layer. Utilizing a more realistic description of the volcanic cloud's initial stage potentially improves overall volcanic cloud predictability. It might also be essential to designing geoengineering technologies based on the injection of aerosol precursors in the lower stratosphere.