Article
Environmental Sciences
Nickolay Krotkov, Vincent Realmuto, Can Li, Colin Seftor, Jason Li, Kelvin Brentzel, Martin Stuefer, Jay Cable, Carl Dierking, Jennifer Delamere, David Schneider, Johanna Tamminen, Seppo Hassinen, Timo Ryyppo, John Murray, Simon Carn, Jeffrey Osiensky, Nate Eckstein, Garrett Layne, Jeremy Kirkendall
Summary: The NASA Applied Sciences Disasters Program aims to expedite the processing and delivery of volcanic ash and sulfur dioxide satellite data through collaboration and technological development. The development of low-latency quantitative retrievals of SO2 column density and thermal infrared SO2 and ash indices addresses critical needs for nighttime coverage over the northern polar regions. The data produced within 30 minutes of satellite overpasses are distributed to relevant observatories and centers, with the software packages available for a global user community.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Meelis J. Zidikheri, Christopher Lucas
Summary: This study presents a method for improving the skill of quantitative ensemble forecasting models of airborne volcanic ash by assimilating satellite observations. The method involves multiple trial dispersion model simulations with random perturbations, followed by application of an ensemble filter based on agreement with observations within a specified time window. The selected simulations are then used to form the forecast ensemble, showing superior skill compared to reference forecasts in several eruption case studies.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Mehmood, Sajid Saleem, Renato Filjar
Summary: This study assessed the effects of the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic ash crisis in 2010 on the ionosphere and GPS positioning. By analyzing data and comparing GPS positioning errors, it was found that the volcanic ash event led to a 15% increase in ionosphere error and an increased variance in GPS position errors. This study revealed the potential impact of volcanic ash on GPS positioning accuracy and established a foundation for studying similar events in the future.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Alexandre Deguine, Lieven Clarisse, Herve Herbin, Denis Petitprez
Summary: Airborne volcanic ash can be observed and quantified using hyperspectral infrared sounders, and the retrieval of physical quantities relies on spectrally dependent complex refractive indices. In this study, three datasets were compared to simulate satellite observed spectra of volcanic ash plumes. The results showed that the Pollack et al. dataset performed worst, while the Reed et al. and Deguine et al. datasets had comparable performance. The Deguine et al. dataset was the only one that could reproduce the spectral signatures of rhyolitic ash across the entire thermal IR window.
IEEE GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marcus Bursik, Qingyuan Yang, Adele Bear-Crozier, Michael Pavolonis, Andrew Tupper
Summary: This study explores the mechanism for the development of multilayered volcanic ash clouds, focusing on the alternation of turbulent and quiescent atmospheric layers modulating vertical particle motion. The results suggest that greater turbulence intensity and rapid turbulent diffusion in some layers lead to a layering of particle concentration, which can have important implications for ash cloud forecasting and aviation safety.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andres E. Bedoya-Velasquez, Manuela Hoyos-Restrepo, Africa Barreto, Rosa D. Garcia, Pedro Miguel Romero-Campos, Omaira Garcia, Ramon Ramos, Reijo Roininen, Carlos Toledano, Michael Sicard, Romain Ceolato
Summary: This study presents a synergistic approach to studying the aerosol optical and microphysical properties during the 2021 eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma, Spain. The study aims to characterize the different phases of the volcanic eruption by analyzing the spatio-temporal evolution of the event and quantifying the mass concentration in four atmospheric layers. The impact of the volcanic plume reaching the South of France is also analyzed.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michael Sicard, Carmen Cordoba-Jabonero, Africa Barreto, Ellsworth J. Welton, Cristina Gil-Diaz, Clara Carvajal-Perez, Adolfo Comeron, Omaira Garcia, Rosa Garcia, Maria-Angeles Lopez-Cayuela, Constantino Munoz-Porcar, Natalia Prats, Ramon Ramos, Alejandro Rodriguez-Gomez, Carlos Toledano, Carlos Torres
Summary: The paper discusses the aerosol measurements taken during the volcanic eruption of Cumbre Vieja in La Palma Island, showing that the height of the volcanic plume varied significantly and steadily increased after the eruption started. The ash mass concentration was evaluated using a polarized lidar instrument, with the highest estimated concentration reaching 800-3200μg m(-3).
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Soi Ahn, Joon-Bum Jee, Kyu-Tae Lee, Hyun-Jong Oh
Summary: A new technique has been developed in this study to enhance the detection of airborne volcanic ash using visible, near-infrared, and infrared bands from meteorological satellite systems. By utilizing advanced imaging technology and focusing on multispectral data, the technique was successful in distinguishing volcanic clouds and providing vital information for forecasters. The improved VA product of GK-2A satellite proved to be effective in locating VA and offering guidance to the aviation industry during volcanic events.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lin Ma, Wenjia Song, Zhengfu Guo, Xinyu Zou, Donald B. Dingwell
Summary: The ingestion of volcanic ash by aircraft is a potential hazard for aviation due to the damage it can cause to jet engines. Previous studies have focused on the melting behavior of volcanic ash under slow heating rates and characteristic temperatures, but these methods are limited in their application to the transient thermal gradients experienced in a jet engine. In this study, a thermal shock experiment was designed to simulate the conditions of volcanic ash encountering a jet engine, and three characteristic times were proposed to quantify the continuous melting process of volcanic ash under thermal shock conditions.
JOURNAL OF VOLCANOLOGY AND GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Larry Mastin, Mike Pavolonis, Samantha Engwell, Rory Clarkson, Claire Witham, Greg Brock, Ian Lisk, Marianne Guffanti, Andrew Tupper, David Schneider, Frances Beckett, Thomas Casadevall, Graham Rennie
Summary: The Eyjafjallajokull eruption in 2010 brought attention to the impact of ash clouds on aviation and the vulnerability of our jet-based society. Since then, there have been significant advancements in satellite technology, more accurate ash-dispersion models, and improved procedures for forecasting and communicating hazards. In the future, warning products are expected to transition from text and simplified maps to 4D data streams.
BULLETIN OF VOLCANOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Laura Aliotta, Vito Gigante, Andrea Lazzeri
Summary: The aim of this study is to explore the potential use of Etna's ashes as a sustainable resource in Sicily. The researchers investigated the morphological and mechanical properties of biocomposites made from poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) filled with Mount Etna volcanic ashes. The results showed that these composites could be a feasible solution for agriculture applications, with potential benefits in soil improvement and CO2 reduction.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Umberto Rizza, Franck Donnadieu, Mauro Morichetti, Elenio Avolio, Giuseppe Castorina, Agostino Semprebello, Salvatore Magazu, Giorgio Passerini, Enrico Mancinelli, Clothilde Biensan
Summary: During explosive eruptions, volcanic emissions such as ash and gas disperse in the atmosphere, resulting in hazards to aviation, human health, air quality, and the environment. This study documents the contamination of airspace by fine volcanic ash from Mount Etna eruptions and analyzes its dispersal using a modeling system. The results show that the ash can easily contaminate the airspace within a radius of about 1000 km within a few days, posing a potential risk to both aviation and public health.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eduardo Rossi, Gholamhossein Bagheri, Frances Beckett, Costanza Bonadonna
Summary: Research has shown that volcanic ash aggregates can delay the sedimentation of ash particles, increasing their residence time in the atmosphere. The rafting effect of volcanic ash can also significantly increase the travel distances of particles, which has important implications for hazard assessment and weather modeling related to volcanic ash dispersal.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dennis Piontek, Luca Bugliaro, Marius Schmidl, Daniel K. Zhou, Christiane Voigt
Summary: A new volcanic ash cloud detection algorithm VACOS based on artificial neural networks and geostationary sensor data has been developed, showing promising results in monitoring volcanic ash clouds during both day and night time.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mateo Gasparovic, Ivan Pilas, Damir Klobucar, Iva Gasparovic
Summary: The ash dieback pandemic, caused by the invasive fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, poses a significant threat to Europe's natural biodiversity. Visual crown damage assessment is the most common method used for identifying ash dieback, but remote sensing technologies could provide efficient supplementary methods for disease detection and monitoring. Although effective methods of monitoring biotic damage through remote sensing have been developed, further research is needed to utilize high-resolution imagery for ash dieback detection and monitoring.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Natalie J. Harvey, Helen F. Dacre, Helen N. Webster, Isabelle A. Taylor, Sujan Khanal, Roy G. Grainger, Michael C. Cooke
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Daniel Fisher, Martin J. Wooster, Weidong Xu, Gareth Thomas, Puji Lestari
Article
Environmental Sciences
Henda Guermazi, Pasquale Sellitto, Juan Cuesta, Maxim Eremenko, Mathieu Lachatre, Sylvain Mailler, Elisa Carboni, Giuseppe Salerno, Tommaso Caltabiano, Laurent Menut, Mohamed Moncef Serbaji, Farhat Rekhiss, Bernard Legras
Summary: A new retrieval algorithm called AEROIASI-H2SO4 was developed to measure the extinction and mass concentration of sulphate aerosols based on IASI observations. The algorithm shows moderate random uncertainties and accurately identifies the volcanic plume horizontal morphology, providing crucial new information towards the study of volcanic emissions. Insights are given on the possible spectroscopic evidence of the presence of larger-sized particles in the plume.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Corinna Kloss, Pasquale Sellitto, Jean-Baptiste Renard, Alexandre Baron, Nelson Begue, Bernard Legras, Gwenael Berthet, Emmanuel Briaud, Elisa Carboni, Clair Duchamp, Valentin Duflot, Patrick Jacquet, Nicolas Marquestaut, Jean-Marc Metzger, Guillaume Payen, Marion Ranaivombola, Tjarda Roberts, Richard Siddans, Fabrice Jegou
Summary: Following the eruption of Hunga Tonga, we conducted a balloon-borne characterization of the stratospheric aerosol plume. The results indicate that space-borne observations are insufficient to fully characterize the microphysical properties of the plume, highlighting the necessity of in situ observations.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Stuart Jenkins, Adam Povey, Andrew Gettelman, Roy Grainger, Philip Stier, Myles Allen
Summary: Estimates show that the anthropogenic effective radiative forcing trend has increased over the years, primarily due to reductions in aerosol emissions. The observations support the claim of an aerosol-induced temporary acceleration in the rate of warming, but also indicate that smaller aerosol forcing trend changes are consistent with observations.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stuart Jenkins, Chris Smith, Myles Allen, Roy Grainger
Summary: On January 15, 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) eruption released a significant amount of water vapor and sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, which is expected to contribute to an increase in net radiative forcing and a temporary global surface temperature anomaly exceeding 1.5 degrees C in the next decade. This study assesses the radiative response to the HTHH eruption and calculates the heightened risk of surpassing the 1.5 degrees C threshold shortly after the eruption. The findings suggest that while HTHH does increase the chance of exceeding 1.5 degrees C in the near future, long-term climate policies and the mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants play a more dominant role in determining the likelihood of surpassing this threshold.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jean-Francois Smekens, Tamsin A. Mather, Mike R. Burton, Alessandro La Spina, Khristopher Kabbabe, Benjamin Esse, Matthew Varnam, Roy G. Grainger
Summary: Field-portable Open Path Fourier Transform Infrared (OP-FTIR) spectrometers are used to remotely measure the composition of volcanic plumes, providing valuable data on gas emissions. A fast retrieval algorithm is presented to estimate quantities of gas, ash, and sulphate aerosols, and the results from two pilot campaigns on Stromboli volcano are validated. The algorithm accurately identifies ash-rich plumes and gas bursts associated with explosions and quantifies the particle sizes and mass column densities of ash and sulphate aerosols in the plume.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bernard Legras, Clair Duchamp, Pasquale Sellitto, Aurelien Podglajen, Elisa Carboni, Richard Siddans, Jens-Uwe Grooss, Sergey Khaykin, Felix Ploeger
Summary: This study utilized a variety of spaceborne instruments to investigate the unprecedented stratospheric plume following the Tonga volcano eruption on January 15, 2022. The release of a large amount of water vapor from the volcano led to the rapid conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfate aerosols, causing them to descend to 24-26 km in height. Results showed that during the first two months, the aerosol plume did not simply disperse passively but instead organized into concentrated patches.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Andrew T. Prata, Roy G. Grainger, Isabelle A. Taylor, Adam C. Povey, Simon R. Proud, Caroline A. Poulsen
Summary: This study applies the ORAC algorithm to retrieve volcanic ash cloud properties from satellite measurements, such as cloud-top height, effective radius, optical depth, and mass loading. It demonstrates improvements in thermal infrared volcanic ash retrievals, including noise treatment, multi-layer cloud scenarios, height distinction, and retrieval of a wider range of effective radii sizes. The results reveal the mass changes, characteristics of different ash layers, and temporal evolution of ash cloud concentrations. These findings are crucial for aviation safety and dust dispersion model validation.
ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Natalie J. Harvey, Helen F. Dacre, Cameron Saint, Andrew T. Prata, Helen N. Webster, Roy G. Grainger
Summary: Due to the uncertainty surrounding the release of volcanic ash, combining prior estimates with satellite retrievals and atmospheric dispersion models can provide useful emission estimates. This study advances the source inversion approach by using an ensemble of meteorological data to account for uncertainty and applying it to the Raikoke eruption in 2019. The posterior emission estimates derived from this method can improve ash forecasts and reduce disruptions to aviation operations.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria-Elissavet Koukouli, Konstantinos Michailidis, Pascal Hedelt, Isabelle A. Taylor, Antje Inness, Lieven Clarisse, Dimitris Balis, Dmitry Efremenko, Diego Loyola, Roy G. Grainger, Christian Retscher
Summary: This paper presents the extensive verification of the S5P SO2 layer height (S5P+I: SO2LH) product over major recent volcanic eruptions, as well as assesses its impact on volcanic forecasts. The results show good agreement between the S5P and IASI observations, and the assimilation of the S5P SO2 LH product improves model output and the geographical spread of volcanic plumes.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Luca Bugliaro, Dennis Piontek, Stephan Kox, Marius Schmidl, Bernhard Mayer, Richard Mueller, Margarita Vazquez-Navarro, Daniel M. Peters, Roy G. Grainger, Josef Gasteiger, Jayanta Kar
Summary: This paper presents a novel method for detecting volcanic ash clouds using satellite observations. By training an artificial neural network with SEVIRI data, the method can accurately determine the mass column concentration and top height of ash clouds during the day and night. The method has been implemented operationally at the German Weather Service.
NATURAL HAZARDS AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Megan R. McGrory, Rosalie H. Shepherd, Martin D. King, Nicholas Davidson, Francis D. Pope, I. Matthew Watson, Roy G. Grainger, Anthony C. Jones, Andrew D. Ward
Summary: By studying the interaction between sulfuric acid and silica beads at the micron scale, it was found that core-shell particles can form. The experiment simulated the light scattering properties of aerosols and determined the diameter, shell thickness, and refractive index of the core aerosol. Additionally, the study found that the presence of a sulfuric acid film significantly affected the light scattering properties of the aerosol.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mathieu Lachatre, Sylvain Mailler, Laurent Menut, Solene Turquety, Pasquale Sellitto, Henda Guermazi, Giuseppe Salerno, Tommaso Caltabiano, Elisa Carboni
GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT
(2020)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Caroline A. Poulsen, Gregory R. McGarragh, Gareth E. Thomas, Martin Stengel, Matthew W. Christensen, Adam C. Povey, Simon R. Proud, Elisa Carboni, Rainer Hollmann, Roy G. Grainger
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2020)
