scholarly journals Long-range transport of volcanic aerosol from the 2010 Merapi tropical eruption to Antarctica

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Wu ◽  
Sabine Griessbach ◽  
Lars Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Polar Vortex ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Volcanic Plume ◽  
Volcanic Aerosol ◽  
The South ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. Volcanic sulfate aerosol is an important source of sulfur for Antarctica where other local sources of sulfur are rare. Mid- and high latitude volcanic eruptions can directly influence the aerosol budget of the polar stratosphere. However, tropical eruptions can also enhance polar aerosol load following long-range transport. In the present work, we analyze the volcanic plume of a tropical eruption, Mount Merapi in October 2010, using the Lagrangian particle dispersion model Massive-Parallel Trajectory Calculations (MPTRAC), Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) SO2 observations and Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) aerosol observations. We investigate the pathway and transport efficiency of the volcanic aerosol from the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) to the lower stratosphere over Antarctica. We first estimated the time- and height-resolved SO2 injection time series over Mount Merapi during the explosive eruption using the AIRS SO2 observations and a backward trajectory approach. Then the SO2 injections were tracked for up to 6 months using the MPTRAC model. The Lagrangian transport simulation of the volcanic plume was compared to MIPAS aerosol observations and showed good agreement. Both of the simulation and the observations presented in this study suggest that a significant amount of aerosols of the volcanic plume from the Merapi eruption was transported from the tropics to the south of 60 °S within one month after the eruption and even further to Antarctica in the following two months. This relatively fast meridional transport of volcanic aerosol was mainly driven by quasi-horizontal mixing from the TTL to the extratropical lower stratosphere, which was facilitated by the weakening of the subtropical jet during the seasonal transition from austral spring to summer and linked to the westerly phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). When the plume went to southern high latitudes, the polar vortex was displaced from the south pole, so the volcanic plume was carried to the south pole without penetrating the polar vortex. Based on the model results, the most efficient pathway for the quasi-horizontal mixing was in between the isentropic surfaces of 360 and 430 K. Although only 4 % of the initial SO2 load was transported into the lower stratosphere south of 60 °S, the Merapi eruption contributed about 8800 tons of sulfur to the Antarctic lower stratosphere. This indicates that the long-range transport under favorable meteorological conditions enables tropical volcanic eruptions to be an important remote source of sulfur for the Antarctic stratosphere.

scholarly journals Long-range transport of volcanic aerosol from the 2010 Merapi tropical eruption to Antarctica

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 15859-15877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Wu ◽  
Sabine Griessbach ◽  
Lars Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Polar Vortex ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Volcanic Plume ◽  
South Pole ◽  
Volcanic Aerosol ◽  
The South ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. Volcanic sulfate aerosol is an important source of sulfur for Antarctica, where other local sources of sulfur are rare. Midlatitude and high-latitude volcanic eruptions can directly influence the aerosol budget of the polar stratosphere. However, tropical eruptions can also enhance polar aerosol load following long-range transport. In the present work, we analyze the volcanic plume of a tropical eruption, Mount Merapi in 2010, and investigate the transport pathway of the volcanic aerosol from the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) to the lower stratosphere over Antarctica. We use the Lagrangian particle dispersion model Massive-Parallel Trajectory Calculations (MPTRAC) and Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) SO2 measurements to reconstruct the altitude-resolved SO2 injection time series during the explosive eruption period and simulate the transport of the volcanic plume using the MPTRAC model. AIRS SO2 and aerosol measurements, the aerosol cloud index values provided by Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS), are used to verify and complement the simulations. The Lagrangian transport simulation of the volcanic plume is compared with MIPAS aerosol measurements and shows good agreement. Both the simulations and the observations presented in this study suggest that volcanic plumes from the Merapi eruption were transported to the south of 60∘ S 1 month after the eruption and even further to Antarctica in the following months. This relatively fast meridional transport of volcanic aerosol was mainly driven by quasi-horizontal mixing from the TTL to the extratropical lower stratosphere, and most of the quasi-horizontal mixing occurred between the isentropic surfaces of 360 to 430 K. When the plume went to Southern Hemisphere high latitudes, the polar vortex was displaced from the South Pole, so that the volcanic plume was carried to the South Pole without penetrating the polar vortex. Although only 4 % of the sulfur injected by the Merapi eruption was transported into the lower stratosphere south of 60∘ S, the Merapi eruption contributed up to 8800 t of sulfur to the Antarctic lower stratosphere. This indicates that the long-range transport under favorable meteorological conditions enables a moderate tropical volcanic eruption to be an important remote source of sulfur for the Antarctic stratosphere.

scholarly journals Detection of aerosols in Antarctica from long-range transport of the 2009 Australian wildfires

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Jumelet ◽  
Florent Tencé ◽  
Philippe Keckhut ◽  
Slimane Bekki
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Volcanic Plume ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Smoke Particle ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
The Antarctic

<p>We analyze the long-range transport to high latitudes of a smoke particle filament originating from the southern tropics main plume after the Australian wildfires now colloquially known as ‘Black Saturday’ on February 7<sup>th</sup> 2009. Using a high-resolution transport/microphysical model, we show that the monitoring cloud/aerosol lidar instrument operating at the French Antarctic station Dumont d’Urville (DDU - 66°S - 140°E) recorded a signature of those aerosols. The 532 nm scattering ratio of this thin aerosol structure is comparable to typical moderate stratospheric volcanic plume, with values between 1.4 and 1.6 on the 1<sup>st</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> days of March above DDU station at around the 14 and 16 km altitude respectively.</p><p>In this study, a dedicated model is described and its ability to track down such fine optical signatures at the global scale is assessed and validated against the Antarctic lidar measurements. Using one month of tropical CALIOP/CALIPSO data as a minimal support to a relatively simple microphysical scheme, we report modeled presence of the aerosols above DDU station after advection of the aerosol size distribution. The space-borne lidar data provide constraints to the microphysical evolution during the simulation and ensure reliable long-range transport of the particles as well as accurate rendering of the plume small-scale features below the 1°x1° resolution threshold.</p><p>This case study of smoke particle signature identification above Antarctica provides strong evidence that biomass burning events, alongside volcanic eruptions, have to be considered as processes able to inject significant amounts of material up to stratospheric altitudes. Among the questions arising out of this study, we highlight the occurrence and imprint of such smoke particles on the Antarctic atmosphere over larger time scales. Any degree of underestimation of the global impact of such deep particle transport will lead to uncertainties in modeling the associated chemical or radiative effects, especially in polar regions where many specific microphysical processes take place. Mainly through sedimentation, particle trapping above Antarctica may also impact the ground albedo (which is some of the largest in the world). Correlated to the smoke presence, we also report an associated ozone increase observed with the DDU ozone lidar. This feature only rarely been observed for events where pyroconvection is originally involved.</p>

scholarly journals Ground-based and satellite optical investigation of the atmosphere and surface of Antarctica

2018 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 10006
Author(s):  
Aleksey Malinka ◽  
Luc Blarel ◽  
Ludmila Chaikovskaya ◽  
Anatoli Chaikovsky ◽  
Natalia Denishchik-Nelubina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Snow Cover ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Atmospheric Pollutants ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Optical Investigation ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
The Antarctic

This presentation contains the results of the 10-year research of Belarusian Antarctic expeditions. The set of instruments consists of a lidar, an albedometer, and a scanning sky radiometer CIMEL. Besides, the data from satellite radiometer MODIS were used to characterize the snow cover. The works focus on the study of aerosol, cloud and snow characteristics in the Antarctic, and their links with the long range transport of atmospheric pollutants and climate changes.

scholarly journals Dust Storm Event of February 2019 in Central and East Coast of Australia and Evidence of Long-Range Transport to New Zealand and Antarctica

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 653
Author(s):  
Hiep Duc Nguyen ◽  
Matt Riley ◽  
John Leys ◽  
David Salter
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
The South ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
Dust Storm Event ◽  
Central Australia

Between 11 and 15 February 2019, a dust storm originating in Central Australia with persistent westerly and south westerly winds caused high particle concentrations at many sites in the state of New South Wales (NSW); both inland and along the coast. The dust continued to be transported to New Zealand and to Antarctica in the south east. This study uses observed data and the WRF-Chem Weather Research Forecast model based on GOCART-AFWA (Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport–Air Force and Weather Agency) dust scheme and GOCART aerosol and gas-phase MOZART (Model for Ozone And Related chemical Tracers) chemistry model to study the long-range transport of aerosols for the period 11 to 15 February 2019 across eastern Australia and onto New Zealand and Antarctica. Wildfires also happened in northern NSW at the same time, and their emissions are taken into account in the WRF-Chem model by using the Fire Inventory from NCAR (FINN) as the emission input. Modelling results using the WRF-Chem model show that for the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, peak concentration of PM10 (and PM2.5) as measured on 14 February 2019 at 05:00 UTC at the monitoring stations of Geraldine, Ashburton, Timaru and Woolston (Christchurch), and about 2 h later at Rangiora and Kaiapoi, correspond to the prediction of high PM10 due to the intrusion of dust to ground level from the transported dust layer above. The Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) observation data from MODIS 3 km Terra/Aqua and CALIOP LiDAR measurements on board CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol LiDAR and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) satellite also indicate that high-altitude dust ranging from 2 km to 6 km, originating from this dust storm event in Australia, was located above Antarctica. This study suggests that the present dust storms in Australia can transport dust from sources in Central Australia to the Tasman sea, New Zealand and Antarctica.

scholarly journals Potential genesis and implications of calcium nitrate in Antarctic snow

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 825-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanthanathan Mahalinganathan ◽  
Meloth Thamban
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Mineral Dust ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Calcium Nitrate ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Ionic Balance ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
Antarctic Snow ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. Among the large variety of particulates in the atmosphere, calcic mineral dust particles have highly reactive surfaces that undergo heterogeneous reactions with atmospheric acids contiguously. The association between nssCa2+, an important proxy indicator of mineral dust, and NO3−, a dominant anion in the Antarctic snowpack, was analysed. A total of 41 snow cores ( ∼  1 m each) that represent snow deposited during 2008–2009 were studied along coastal–inland transects from two different regions in East Antarctica – the Princess Elizabeth Land (PEL) and central Dronning Maud Land (cDML). Correlation statistics showed a strong association (at 99 % significance level) between NO3− and nssCa2+ at the near-coastal sections of both PEL (r  =  0.74) and cDML (r  =  0.82) transects. Similarly, a strong association between these ions was also observed in snow deposits at the inland sections of PEL (r  =  0.73) and cDML (r  =  0.84). Such systematic associations between nssCa2+ and NO3− are attributed to the interaction between calcic mineral dust and nitric acid in the atmosphere, leading to the formation of calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2) aerosol. Principal component analysis revealed common transport and depositional processes for nssCa2+ and NO3− both in PEL and cDML. Forward- and back-trajectory analyses using HYSPLIT model v. 4 revealed that southern South America (SSA) was an important dust-emitting source to the study region, aided by the westerlies. Particle size distribution showed that over 90 % of the dust was in the range  <  4 µm, indicating that these dust particles reached the Antarctic region via long-range transport from the SSA region. We propose that the association between nssCa2+ and NO3− occurs during the long-range transport due to the formation of Ca(NO3)2 rather than to local neutralisation processes. However, the influence of local dust sources from the nunataks in cDML and the contribution of high sea salt in coastal PEL evidently mask such association in the mountainous and coastal regions respectively. Ionic balance calculations showed that 70–75 % of NO3− in the coastal sections was associated with nssCa2+ (to form Ca(NO3)2). However, in the inland sections, 50–55 % of NO3− was present as HNO3. The study indicates that the input of dust-bound NO3− contributes a significant fraction of the total NO3− deposited in coastal Antarctic snow.

scholarly journals Free amino acids in Antarctic aerosol: potential markers for the evolution and fate of marine aerosol

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1269-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Barbaro ◽  
R. Zangrando ◽  
M. Vecchiato ◽  
R. Piazza ◽  
W. R. L. Cairns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Amino Acid Composition ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Free Amino ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Marine Aerosols ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. To investigate the impact of marine aerosols on global climate change it is important to study their chemical composition and size distribution. Amino acids are a component of the organic nitrogen in aerosols, particles containing amino acids have been found to be efficient ice nuclei. The main aim of this study was to investigate the L- and D-free amino acid composition as possible tracers of primary biological production in Antarctic aerosols from three different areas: two continental bases, Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS) on the coast of the Ross Sea, Concordia Station at Dome C on the Antarctic Plateau, and the Southern Ocean near the Antarctic continent. Studying the size distribution of amino acids in aerosols allowed us to characterize this component of the water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in marine aerosols near their source and after long-range transport. The presence of only free L-amino acids in our samples is indicative of the prevalence of phytoplanktonic material. Sampling at these three points allowed us to study the reactivity of these compounds during long-range transport. The mean total amino acid concentration detected at MZS was 11 pmol m−3, a higher percentage of amino acids were found in the fine fraction. The aerosol samples collected at Dome C had the lowest amino acid values (0.7 and 0.8 pmol m−3) and the coarse particles were found to be enriched with amino acids compared to the coastal site. The amino acid composition had also changed suggesting that physical and chemical transformations had occurred during long range transport. During the sampling cruise on the R/V talica on the Southern Ocean, high concentrations of amino acids were found in the total suspended particles, this we attribute to the presence of intact biological material in the sample.

scholarly journals Potential genesis and implications of calcium nitrate in Antarctic snow

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 6125-6151
Author(s):  
K. Mahalinganathan ◽  
M. Thamban
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Oxides ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Mineral Dust ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Calcium Nitrate ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
Antarctic Snow ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. Among the large variety of particulates in the atmosphere, calcic mineral dust particles have highly reactive surfaces that undergo heterogeneous reactions with nitrogen oxides contiguously. The association between Ca2+, an important proxy indicator of mineral dust and NO3–, a dominant anion in the Antarctic snow pack was analysed. A total of 41 snow cores (~ 1 m each) that represent snow deposited during 2008–2009 were studied along coastal–inland transects from two different regions – the Princess Elizabeth Land (PEL) and central Dronning Maud Land (cDML) in East Antarctica. Correlation statistics showed a strong association (at 99 % significance level) between NO3– and Ca2+ at the near-coastal sections of both PEL (r = 0.72) and cDML (r = 0.76) transects. Similarly, a strong association between these ions was also observed in snow deposits at the inland sections of PEL (r = 0.8) and cDML (r = 0.85). Such systematic associations between Ca2+ and NO3– is attributed to the interaction between calcic mineral dust and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, leading to the possible formation of calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2). Forward and back trajectory analyses using HYSPLIT model v. 4 revealed that Southern South America (SSA) was an important dust emitting source to the study region, aided by the westerlies. Particle size distribution showed that over 90 % of the dust was in the range < 4 μm, indicating that these dust particles reached the Antarctic region via long range transport from the SSA region. We propose that the association between Ca2+ and NO3– occurs during the long range transport due to the formation of Ca(NO3)2. The Ca(NO3)2 thus formed in the atmosphere undergo deposition over Antarctica under the influence of anticyclonic polar easterlies. However, influence of local dust sources from the nunataks in cDML evidently mask such association in the mountainous region. The study indicates that the input of dust-bound NO3– may contribute a significant fraction of the total NO3– deposited in Antarctic snow.

scholarly journals Measurement of black carbon at Syowa station, Antarctica: seasonal variation, transport processes and pathways

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 9883-9929 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hara ◽  
K. Osada ◽  
M. Yabuki ◽  
M. Hayashi ◽  
T. Yamanouchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Katabatic Wind ◽  
Free Troposphere ◽  
Syowa Station ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
Antarctic Continent ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Transport Flux

Abstract. Measurement of black carbon (BC) was carried out at Syowa station Antarctica (69° S, 39° E) from February 2004 until January 2007. The BC concentration at Syowa ranged from below detection to 176 ng m−3 during the measurements. Higher BC concentrations were observed mostly under strong wind (blizzard) conditions due to the approach of a cyclone and blocking event. The BC-rich air masses traveled from the lower troposphere of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to Syowa (Antarctic coast). During the summer (November–February), the BC concentration showed a diurnal variation together with surface wind speed and increased in the katabatic wind from the Antarctic continent. Considering the low BC source strength in the Antarctic continent, the higher BC concentration in the continental air (katabatic wind) might be caused by long range transport of BC via the free troposphere from mid- and low- latitudes. The seasonal variation of BC at Syowa had a maximum in August, while at the other coastal stations (Halley, Neumayer, and Ferraz) and the continental station (Amundsen-Scott), the maximum occurred in October. This difference may result from different transport pathways and scavenging of BC by precipitation during the transport from the source regions. During the austral summer, long-range transport of BC via the free troposphere is likely to make an important contribution to the ambient BC concentration. The BC transport flux indicated that BC injection into the Antarctic region strongly depended on the frequency of storm (blizzard) conditions. The seasonal variation of BC transport flux increased by 290 mg m−2 month−1 in winter–spring when blizzards frequently occurred, whereas the flux decreased to lower than 50 mg m−2 month−1 in the summer with infrequent blizzards.

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