Abstract
AbstractVolcanic ash is often neglected in climate simulations because ash particles are assumed to have a short atmospheric lifetime, and to not participate in sulfur chemistry. After the Mt. Kelut eruption in 2014, stratospheric ash-rich aerosols were observed for months. Here we show that the persistence of super-micron ash is consistent with a density near 0.5 g cm−3, close to pumice. Ash-rich particles dominate the volcanic cloud optical properties for the first 60 days. We also find that the initial SO2 lifetime is determined by SO2 uptake on ash, rather than by reaction with OH as commonly assumed. About 43% more volcanic sulfur is removed from the stratosphere in 2 months with the SO2 heterogeneous chemistry on ash particles than without. This research suggests the need for re-evaluation of factors controlling SO2 lifetime in climate model simulations, and of the impact of volcanic ash on stratospheric chemistry and radiation.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Chemistry
Reference58 articles.
1. Niemeier, U. et al. Initial fate of fine ash and sulfur from large volcanic eruptions. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 9, 9043–9057 (2009).
2. Vernier, J.-P. et al. In situ and space-based observations of the Kelud volcanic plume: The persistence of ash in the lower stratosphere: persistence of volcanic ash. J. Geophys. Res.: Atmospheres 121, 11,104–11,118 (2016).
3. Jensen, E. J. et al. Ash particles detected in the tropical lower stratosphere. Geophys. Res. Lett. 45, 11,483–11,489 (2018).
4. Pueschel, R. F. et al. Physical and optical properties of the Pinatubo volcanic aerosol: Aircraft observations with impactors and a Sun-tracking photometer. J. Geophys. Res.: Atmospheres 99, 12915–12922 (1994).
5. Mossop, S. Volcanic dust collected at an altitude of 20 km. Nature 203, 824–827 (1964).
Cited by
55 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献，注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献，订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献