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Formation of the El Chichon aerosol cloud
Author(s) -
Barth C. A.,
Sanders R. W.,
Thomas R. J.,
Thomas G. E.,
Jakosky B. M.,
West R. A.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl010i011p00993
Subject(s) - equator , atmospheric sciences , aerosol , altitude (triangle) , latitude , meteorology , mesosphere , environmental science , effects of high altitude on humans , satellite , stratosphere , geology , physics , astronomy , geodesy , geometry , mathematics
Thermal emission at 6.8 µm and particle‐scattered radiation at 1.9 µm from the El Chichon aerosol cloud were measured by instruments on board the Solar Mesosphere Explorer satellite. The cloud moved westward circling the globe in twenty‐one days. During its initial formation the cloud was centered at an altitude of 27 km and was confined to the latitude band between the equator and 30°N. At the 27 km level, the maximum density was reached eight to nine weeks after the eruption. Following that time, the maximum in the density gradually moved lower in altitude.