The role of in-situ measurements of volcanic ash concentrations in preventing economic disasters due to volcanic ash clouds

Abstract. The forecast accuracy of distal volcanic ash clouds is important for providing valid aviation advice during volcanic ash eruption. However, because the distal part of volcanic ash plume is far from the volcano, the influence of eruption information on this part becomes rather indirect and uncertain, resulting in inaccurate volcanic ash forecasts in these distal areas. In our approach, we use real-life aircraft in situ observations, measured in the northwestern part of Germany during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, in an ensemble-based data assimilation system combined with a volcanic ash transport model to investigate the potential improvement on the forecast accuracy with regard to the distal volcanic ash plume. We show that the error of the analyzed volcanic ash state can be significantly reduced through assimilating real-life in situ measurements. After a continuous assimilation, it is shown that the aviation advice for Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg can be significantly improved. We suggest that with suitable aircrafts measuring once per day across the distal volcanic ash plume, the description and prediction of volcanic ash clouds in these areas can be greatly improved.

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The role of oxygen in submergence-induced petiole elongation in Rumex palustris: in situ measurements of oxygen in petioles of intact plants using micro-electrodes

New Phytologist ◽

10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00727.x ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 147 (3) ◽

pp. 497-504 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

J. G. H. M. RIJNDERS ◽

W. ARMSTRONG ◽

M. J. DARWENT ◽

C. W. P. M. BLOM ◽

L. A. C. J. VOESENEK

Keyword(s):

In Situ Measurements ◽

Intact Plants ◽

Petiole Elongation

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Monitoring presence and streaming patterns of Icelandic volcanic ash during its arrival to Slovenia

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-8-3863-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 3863-3898 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

F. Gao ◽

S. Stanič ◽

K. Bergant ◽

T. Bolte ◽

F. Coren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Chemical Analysis ◽

Atmospheric Aerosol ◽

Volcanic Ash ◽

Ground Level ◽

In Situ Measurements ◽

Volcanic Origin ◽

Air Masses ◽

X Ray

Abstract. The eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano starting on 14 April 2010 resulted in the spreading of volcanic ash over most parts of Europe. In Slovenia, the presence of volcanic ash was monitored using ground-based in-situ measurements, lidar-based remote sensing and airborne in-situ measurements. Volcanic origin of the detected aerosols was confirmed by subsequent spectral and chemical analysis of the collected samples. The initial arrival of volcanic ash to Slovenia was detected at ground level using in-situ measurements during the night of 17 April 2010, but was not observed via lidar-based remote sensing due to the presence of clouds at lower altitudes while the streaming height of ash-loaded air masses was above 5 km a.s.l. The second arrival of volcanic ash on 20 April 2010 was detected by both lidar-based remote sensing and airborne in-situ measurement, revealing two or more elevated atmospheric aerosol layers above Slovenia. Identification of samples from ground-based in-situ and airborne in-situ measurements based on energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed that a fraction of particles was volcanic ash from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. We performed simulations of airflow trajectories to explain the arrival of the air masses containing volcanic ash to Slovenia.

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Model-based aviation advice on distal volcanic ash clouds by assimilating aircraft in-situ measurements

10.5194/acp-2016-166 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

G. Fu ◽

A. W. Heemink ◽

S. Lu ◽

A. J. Segers ◽

K. Weber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Volcanic Ash ◽

Transport Model ◽

Real Life ◽

Forecast Accuracy ◽

In Situ Measurements ◽

North West ◽

The North ◽

Ash Plume ◽

Potential Improvement

Abstract. The forecast accuracy of distal volcanic ash clouds is important for providing valid aviation advice during volcanic ash eruption. However, because the distal part of volcanic ash plume is far from the volcano, the influence of eruption information on this part becomes rather indirect and uncertain, resulting in inaccurate volcanic ash forecasts in these distal areas. In our approach, we use real-life aircraft in-situ observations, measured in the North-West part of Germany during the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption, in an ensemble-based data assimilation system combined with a volcanic ash transport model to investigate the potential improvement on the forecast accuracy with regard to the distal volcanic ash plume. We show that the error of the analyzed volcanic ash state can be significantly reduced through assimilating real-life in-situ measurements. After a continuous assimilation, it is shown that the aviation advice for Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium can be significantly improved. We suggest that with suitable aircrafts measuring once per day across the distal volcanic ash plume, the description and prediction of volcanic ash clouds in these areas can be greatly improved.

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Ground-based and airborne in-situ measurements of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic aerosol plume in Switzerland in spring 2010

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-11-10011-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (19) ◽

pp. 10011-10030 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

N. Bukowiecki ◽

P. Zieger ◽

E. Weingartner ◽

Z. Jurányi ◽

M. Gysel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Volcanic Ash ◽

In Situ Measurements ◽

Aerosol Size Distribution ◽

Volcanic Aerosol ◽

Research Aircraft ◽

Swiss Plateau ◽

Aerosol Plume

Abstract. The volcanic aerosol plume resulting from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland in April and May 2010 was detected in clear layers above Switzerland during two periods (17–19 April 2010 and 16–19 May 2010). In-situ measurements of the airborne volcanic plume were performed both within ground-based monitoring networks and with a research aircraft up to an altitude of 6000 m a.s.l. The wide range of aerosol and gas phase parameters studied at the high altitude research station Jungfraujoch (3580 m a.s.l.) allowed for an in-depth characterization of the detected volcanic aerosol. Both the data from the Jungfraujoch and the aircraft vertical profiles showed a consistent volcanic ash mode in the aerosol volume size distribution with a mean optical diameter around 3 ± 0.3 μm. These particles were found to have an average chemical composition very similar to the trachyandesite-like composition of rock samples collected near the volcano. Furthermore, chemical processing of volcanic sulfur dioxide into sulfate clearly contributed to the accumulation mode of the aerosol at the Jungfraujoch. The combination of these in-situ data and plume dispersion modeling results showed that a significant portion of the first volcanic aerosol plume reaching Switzerland on 17 April 2010 did not reach the Jungfraujoch directly, but was first dispersed and diluted in the planetary boundary layer. The maximum PM10 mass concentrations at the Jungfraujoch reached 30 μgm−3 and 70 μgm−3 (for 10-min mean values) duri ng the April and May episode, respectively. Even low-altitude monitoring stations registered up to 45 μgm−3 of volcanic ash related PM10 (Basel, Northwestern Switzerland, 18/19 April 2010). The flights with the research aircraft on 17 April 2010 showed one order of magnitude higher number concentrations over the northern Swiss plateau compared to the Jungfraujoch, and a mass concentration of 320 (200–520) μgm−3 on 18 May 2010 over the northwestern Swiss plateau. The presented data significantly contributed to the time-critical assessment of the local ash layer properties during the initial eruption phase. Furthermore, dispersion models benefited from the detailed information on the volcanic aerosol size distribution and its chemical composition.

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