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Satellite observation of SO 2 from El Chichon: Identification and measurement
Author(s) -
McPeters R. D.,
Heath D. F.,
Schlesinger B. M.
Publication year - 1984
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/gl011i012p01203
Subject(s) - albedo (alchemy) , wavelength , volcano , altitude (triangle) , absorption (acoustics) , satellite , scattering , attenuation coefficient , atmospheric sciences , backscatter (email) , optical depth , environmental science , materials science , remote sensing , geology , optics , physics , aerosol , meteorology , astronomy , art , telecommunications , geometry , mathematics , seismology , performance art , computer science , wireless , art history
Absorption bands between 300 nm and 315 nm were observed in spectral scans of the atmospheric albedo made by the solar backscattered ultraviolet instrument (SBUV) on Nimbus 7 following the eruption of El Chichon. We show that these bands coincide with peaks in the absorption coefficient spectrum of SO 2 and use the magnitude of the absorption to estimate the column content of SO 2 present. A maximum concentration of 15 matm‐cm of SO 2 was observed west of Hawaii on April 15; the minimum detectable amount of SO 2 in a single scan is about 1 matm‐cm. The disappearance of the band structure at wavelengths below 300 nm indicates that the SO 2 was between 20 km and 30 km altitude. We also observe excess albedo near 300 nm which we attribute to increased scattering from volcanic aerosols; the wavelength of the scattering feature indicates that the aerosols also were near 25 km altitude.