In situ measurements of tropospheric volcanic plumes in Ecuador and Colombia during TC^sup 4

A NASA DC-8 research aircraft penetrated tropospheric gas and aerosol plumes sourced from active volcanoes in Ecuador and Colombia during the Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling (TC^sub 4^) mission in July-August 2007. The likely source volcanoes were Tungurahua (Ecuador) and Nevado del...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres 2011-05, Vol.116 (10), p.1B
Main Authors: Carn, S A, Froyd, K D, Anderson, B E, Wennberg, P, Crounse, J, Spencer, K, Dibb, J E, Krotkov, N A, Browell, E V, Hair, J W, Diskin, G, Sachse, G, Vay, S A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acidity
Aerosols
Atmospheric chemistry
Emission measurements
Geophysics
In situ measurement
Instrumentation
Monitoring instruments
Plumes
Sulfates
Sulfur dioxide
Troposphere
Volcanoes
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Summary:A NASA DC-8 research aircraft penetrated tropospheric gas and aerosol plumes sourced from active volcanoes in Ecuador and Colombia during the Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling (TC^sub 4^) mission in July-August 2007. The likely source volcanoes were Tungurahua (Ecuador) and Nevado del Huila (Colombia). The TC^sub 4^ data provide rare insight into the chemistry of volcanic plumes in the tropical troposphere, and permit a comparison of SO2 column amounts measured by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument on the Aura satellite with in situ SO2 measurements. Elevated concentrations of SO2, sulfate aerosol, and particles were measured by DC-8 instrumentation in volcanic outflow at altitudes of 3-6 km. Estimated plume ages range from ∼2 h at Huila to ∼22-48 h downwind of Ecuador. The plumes contained sulfate-rich accumulation mode particles that were variably neutralized and often highly acidic. A significant fraction of supermicron volcanic ash was evident in one plume. The TC^sub 4^ data set provides further evidence of the impact of volcanic emissions on tropospheric acidity and oxidizing capacity.
ISSN:2169-897X
2169-8996