Operational evaluation of volcanic source terms (volcanic ash and SO2) from inverse modelling for aviation

Author(s):  
Mariëlle Mulder ◽  
Delia Arnold ◽  
Christian Maurer ◽  
Marcus Hirtl

<p>An operational framework is developed to provide timely and frequent source term updates for volcanic emissions (ash and SO<sub>2</sub>). The procedure includes running the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART with an initial (a priori) source term, and combining the output with observations (from satellite, ground-based, etc. sources) to obtain an a posteriori source term. This work was part of the EUNADICS-AV (eunadics-av.eu), which is a continuation of the work developed in the VAST project (vast.nilu.no). The aim is to ensuring that at certain time intervals when new observational and meteorological data is available during an event, an updated source term is provided to analysis and forecasting groups. The system is tested with the Grimsvötn eruption of 2011. Based on a source term sensitivity test, one can find the optimum between a sufficiently detailed source term and computational resources. Because satellite and radar data from different sources is available at different times, the source term is generated with the data that is available the earliest after the eruption started and data that is available later is used for evaluation.</p>

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 7153-7165
Author(s):  
Oscar S. Sandvik ◽  
Johan Friberg ◽  
Moa K. Sporre ◽  
Bengt G. Martinsson

Abstract. In this study we describe a methodology to create high-vertical-resolution SO2 profiles from volcanic emissions. We demonstrate the method's performance for the volcanic clouds following the eruption of Sarychev in June 2009. The resulting profiles are based on a combination of satellite SO2 and aerosol retrievals together with trajectory modelling. We use satellite-based measurements, namely lidar backscattering profiles from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) satellite instrument, to create vertical profiles for SO2 swaths from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) aboard the Aqua satellite. Vertical profiles are created by transporting the air containing volcanic aerosol seen in CALIOP observations using the FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model (FLEXPART) while preserving the high vertical resolution using the potential temperatures from the MERRA-2 (Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Application) meteorological data for the original CALIOP swaths. For the Sarychev eruption, air tracers from 75 CALIOP swaths within 9 d after the eruption are transported forwards and backwards and then combined at a point in time when AIRS swaths cover the complete volcanic SO2 cloud. Our method creates vertical distributions for column density observations of SO2 for individual AIRS swaths, using height information from multiple CALIOP swaths. The resulting dataset gives insight into the height distribution in the different sub-clouds of SO2 within the stratosphere. We have compiled a gridded high-vertical-resolution SO2 inventory that can be used in Earth system models, with a vertical resolution of 1 K in potential temperature, 61 ± 56 m, or 1.8 ± 2.9 mbar.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 12897-12914 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Wang ◽  
S. R. Kawa ◽  
J. Eluszkiewicz ◽  
D. F. Baker ◽  
M. Mountain ◽  
...  

Abstract. Top–down estimates of the spatiotemporal variations in emissions and uptake of CO2 will benefit from the increasing measurement density brought by recent and future additions to the suite of in situ and remote CO2 measurement platforms. In particular, the planned NASA Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS) satellite mission will provide greater coverage in cloudy regions, at high latitudes, and at night than passive satellite systems, as well as high precision and accuracy. In a novel approach to quantifying the ability of satellite column measurements to constrain CO2 fluxes, we use a portable library of footprints (surface influence functions) generated by the Stochastic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport (STILT) model in combination with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in a regional Bayesian synthesis inversion. The regional Lagrangian particle dispersion model framework is well suited to make use of ASCENDS observations to constrain weekly fluxes in North America at a high resolution, in this case at 1° latitude × 1° longitude. We consider random measurement errors only, modeled as a function of the mission and instrument design specifications along with realistic atmospheric and surface conditions. We find that the ASCENDS observations could potentially reduce flux uncertainties substantially at biome and finer scales. At the grid scale and weekly resolution, the largest uncertainty reductions, on the order of 50%, occur where and when there is good coverage by observations with low measurement errors and the a priori uncertainties are large. Uncertainty reductions are smaller for a 1.57 μm candidate wavelength than for a 2.05 μm wavelength, and are smaller for the higher of the two measurement error levels that we consider (1.0 ppm vs. 0.5 ppm clear-sky error at Railroad Valley, Nevada). Uncertainty reductions at the annual biome scale range from ~40% to ~75% across our four instrument design cases and from ~65% to ~85% for the continent as a whole. Tests suggest that the quantitative results are moderately sensitive to assumptions regarding a priori uncertainties and boundary conditions. The a posteriori flux uncertainties we obtain, ranging from 0.01 to 0.06 Pg C yr−1 across the biomes, would meet requirements for improved understanding of long-term carbon sinks suggested by a previous study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Sunarko Sunarko ◽  
Zaki Su'ud

Probabilistic dose analysis from a postulated nuclear accident is performed for the Muntok area in the western Bangka region. Three-Mile Island unit 2PWR-type Nuclear Power Plant (TMI-2) source-term is compiled and used as accident data. The accident is also known as the Small-break Loss of Coolant Accident (SB-LOCA) accident. The isotopes used in the simulation are Kr-88, I-131, Xe-133, and Cs-137. The release point is a 50 m stack. Lagrangian particle dispersion method (LPDM) is used along with a 3-dimensional mass-consistent wind-field. Surface-level time-integrated air concentration and spatial distribution of ground-level total dose were obtained for dry conditions. Meteorological data is taken from hourly records obtained from an on-site meteorological tower in Muntok area for the 2014-2015 period. Effluent is released at a uniform rate during a 6-hour period and the dose is integrated for 12 hours from the beginning of the release until most of the plume left the model boundaries. The regulatory limit for the general public of 1 mSv was detected in an area located 2.5 km from the release point. Radioactive plume is spread from the postulated plant location to uninhabited areas consisted of bushes and farming areas in the SE-SSE direction and to W-NW direction to the Bangka Sea.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5277-5310
Author(s):  
Anne Tipka ◽  
Leopold Haimberger ◽  
Petra Seibert

Abstract. Flex_extract is an open-source software package to efficiently retrieve and prepare meteorological data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) as input for the widely used Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART and the related trajectory model FLEXTRA. ECMWF provides a variety of data sets which differ in a number of parameters (available fields, spatial and temporal resolution, forecast start times, level types etc.). Therefore, the selection of the right data for a specific application and the settings needed to obtain them are not trivial. Consequently, the data sets which can be retrieved through flex_extract by both member-state users and public users as well as their properties are explained. Flex_extract 7.1.2 is a substantially revised version with completely restructured code, mainly written in Python 3, which is introduced with all its input and output files and an explanation of the four application modes. Software dependencies and the methods for calculating the native vertical velocity η˙, the handling of flux data and the preparation of the final FLEXPART input files are documented. Considerations for applications give guidance with respect to the selection of data sets, caveats related to the land–sea mask and orography, etc. Formal software quality-assurance methods have been applied to flex_extract. A set of unit and regression tests as well as code metric data are also supplied. A short description of the installation and usage of flex_extract is provided in the Appendix. The paper points also to an online documentation which will be kept up to date with respect to future versions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sunarko ◽  
Zaki Su’ud ◽  
Idam Arif ◽  
Syeilendra Pramuditya

Probabilistic dose assessment and mapping for nuclear accident condition are performed for Ujung Lemahabang site in Muria Peninsula region in Indonesia. Source term is obtained from Three-Mile Island unit 2 (TMI-2) PWR-type SB-LOCA reactor accident inverse modeling. Effluent consisted of Xe-133, Kr-88, I-131, and Cs-137 released from a 50 m stack. Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Method (LPDM) and 3-dimensional mass-consistent wind field are employed to obtain surface-level time-integrated air concentration and spatial distribution of ground-level total dose in dry condition. Site-specific meteorological data is obtained from hourly records obtained during the Site Feasibility Study period in Ujung Lemahabang. Effluent is released from a height of 50 meters in uniform rate during a 6-hour period and the dose is integrated during this period in a neutrally stable atmospheric condition. Maximum dose noted is below regulatory limit of 1 mSv and radioactive plume is spread mostly to the W-SW inland and to N-NE from the proposed plant to Java Sea. This paper has demonstrated for the first time a probabilistic analysis method for assessing possible spatial dose distribution, a hypothetical release, and a set of meteorological data for Ujung Lemahabang region.


2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 2845-2867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek V. Mallia ◽  
Adam Kochanski ◽  
Dien Wu ◽  
Chris Pennell ◽  
Whitney Oswald ◽  
...  

AbstractPresented here is a new dust modeling framework that uses a backward-Lagrangian particle dispersion model coupled with a dust emission model, both driven by meteorological data from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. This new modeling framework was tested for the spring of 2010 at multiple sites across northern Utah. Initial model results for March–April 2010 showed that the model was able to replicate the 27–28 April 2010 dust event; however, it was unable to reproduce a significant wind-blown dust event on 30 March 2010. During this event, the model significantly underestimated PM2.5 concentrations (4.7 vs 38.7 μg m−3) along the Wasatch Front. The backward-Lagrangian approach presented here allowed for the easy identification of dust source regions with misrepresented land cover and soil types, which required an update to WRF. In addition, changes were also applied to the dust emission model to better account for dust emitted from dry lake basins. These updates significantly improved dust model simulations, with the modeled PM2.5 comparing much more favorably to observations (average of 30.3 μg m−3). In addition, these updates also improved the timing of the frontal passage within WRF. The dust model was also applied in a forecasting setting, with the model able to replicate the magnitude of a large dust event, albeit with a 2-h lag. These results suggest that the dust modeling framework presented here has potential to replicate past dust events, identify source regions of dust, and be used for short-term forecasting applications.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-40
Author(s):  
K. I. Galaeva

The article presents the tasks, characteristic features, tactical and technical characteristics, the possible location and scope of the near-airfield meteorological radar complex. The analysis is made of the comparison of meteorological radar data from the near-airfield meteorological radar complex with reliable sources of meteorological information obtained during preliminary, acceptance, certification tests. The features of carrying out during the validation tests of meteorological radar data of the near-airfield meteorological radar complex are described, namely: dangerous meteorological phenomena (showers of different intensities, thunderstorms with a probability of 30-70%, 71-90%, > 90%, hail of varying degrees of intensity, squall of different intensities), velocity and direction of movement of cloud formations, vector velocity field. Examples of comparing the data of the near-airfield meteorological radar complex with data from a priori reliable sources of information are shown in the form of maps, graphs and tables. It is shown that the data of the near-airfield meteorological radar complex were obtained during testing and certification covering the warm and cold periods of the year, the sample size is statistically significant (except for the sample to assess the vector velocity field from data of aircraft and radar due to the spatial-temporal features comparing data from the two indicated information sources). It was established that the near-airfield meteorological radar complex provides acceptable in accordance with the requirements the construction quality of meteorological phenomena maps, the vector velocity field and the estimation of the cloud formations movement vector. The article illustrates the results of the statistical analysis of the data of the near-airfield meteorological radar complex, obtained personally by the author of the article. Analysis of meteorological data of the near-airfield meteorological radar complex was carried out with the aim of further exploitation of the near-airfield meteorological radar complex.


Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Anna Kampouri ◽  
Vassilis Amiridis ◽  
Stavros Solomos ◽  
Anna Gialitaki ◽  
Eleni Marinou ◽  
...  

Between 30 May and 6 June 2019 a series of new flanks eruptions interested the south-east flanks of Mt. Etna, Italy, forming lava flows and explosive activity that was most intense during the first day of the eruption; as a result, volcanic particles were dispersed towards Greece. Lidar measurements performed at the PANhellenic GEophysical observatory of Antikythera (PANGEA) of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), in Greece, reveal the presence of particles of volcanic origin above the area the days following the eruption. FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model (FLEXPART) simulations and satellite-based SO2 observations from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument onboard the Sentinel-5 Precursor (TROPOMI/S5P), confirm the volcanic plume transport from Etna towards PANGEA and possible mixing with co-existing desert dust particles. Lidar and modeled values are in agreement and the derived sulfate mass concentration is approximately 15 μg/m3. This is the first time that Etna volcanic products are monitored at Antikythera station, in Greece with implications for the investigation of their role in the Mediterranean weather and climate.


2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Botma Visser ◽  
Marcel Meyer ◽  
Robert F. Park ◽  
Christopher A. Gilligan ◽  
Laura E. Burgin ◽  
...  

The Australian wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) population was shaped by the introduction of four exotic incursions into the country. It was previously hypothesized that at least two of these (races 326-1,2,3,5,6 and 194-1,2,3,5,6 first detected in 1969) had an African origin and moved across the Indian Ocean to Australia on high-altitude winds. We provide strong supportive evidence for this hypothesis by combining genetic analyses and complex atmospheric dispersion modeling. Genetic analysis of 29 Australian and South African P. graminis f. sp. tritici races using microsatellite markers confirmed the close genetic relationship between the South African and Australian populations, thereby confirming previously described phenotypic similarities. Lagrangian particle dispersion model simulations using finely resolved meteorological data showed that long distance dispersal events between southern Africa and Australia are indeed possible, albeit rare. Simulated urediniospore transmission events were most frequent from central South Africa (viable spore transmission on approximately 7% of all simulated release days) compared with other potential source regions in southern Africa. The study acts as a warning of possible future P. graminis f. sp. tritici dispersal events from southern Africa to Australia, which could include members of the Ug99 race group, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance on both continents.


2007 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Forster ◽  
Andreas Stohl ◽  
Petra Seibert

Abstract This paper presents the revision and evaluation of the interface between the convective parameterization by Emanuel and Živković-Rothman and the Lagrangian particle dispersion model “FLEXPART” based on meteorological data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The convection scheme relies on the ECMWF grid-scale temperature and humidity and provides a matrix necessary for the vertical convective particle displacement. The benefits of the revised interface relative to its previous version are presented. It is shown that, apart from minor fluctuations caused by the stochastic convective redistribution of the particles, the well-mixed criterion is fulfilled in simulations that include convection. Although for technical reasons the calculation of the displacement matrix differs somewhat between the forward and the backward simulations in time, the mean relative difference between the convective mass fluxes in forward and backward simulations is below 3% and can therefore be tolerated. A comparison of the convective mass fluxes and precipitation rates with those archived in the 40-yr ECMWF Reanalysis (ERA-40) data reveals that the convection scheme in FLEXPART produces upward mass fluxes and precipitation rates that are generally smaller by about 25% than those from ERA-40. This result is interpreted as positive, because precipitation is known to be overestimated by the ECMWF model. Tracer transport simulations with and without convection are compared with surface and aircraft measurements from two tracer experiments and to 222Rn measurements from two aircraft campaigns. At the surface no substantial differences between the model runs with and without convection are found, but at higher altitudes the model runs with convection produced better agreement with the measurements in most of the cases and indifferent results in the others. However, for the tracer experiments only few measurements at higher altitudes are available, and for the aircraft campaigns the 222Rn emissions are highly uncertain. Other datasets better suitable for the validation of convective transport in models are not available. Thus, there is a clear need for reliable datasets suitable to validate vertical transport in models.


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