University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

SATELLITE CHARACTERIZATION OF GLOBAL STRATOSPHERIC SULFATE AEROSOLS RELEASED BY TONGA VOLCANO

Pastorek, Adam

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6723.pdf
WI02_1.pptx

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122426

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Title
SATELLITE CHARACTERIZATION OF GLOBAL STRATOSPHERIC SULFATE AEROSOLS RELEASED BY TONGA VOLCANO
Author(s)
Pastorek, Adam
Contributor(s)
  • Lecours, Mike
  • Cameron, William D
  • Boone, Chris
  • Bernath, Peter F.
Issue Date
2023-06-21
Keyword(s)
Atmospheric science
Abstract
Large volcanic eruptions create an enhanced layer of sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere. These sulfuric acid droplets persist for many months, altering the climate and stratospheric chemistry. Sulfate aerosols scatter sunlight back to space, cooling the surface of the Earth and absorb outgoing thermal radiation, heating the stratosphere. The calculation of the climate impact of sulfate aerosols depends on their physical properties such as droplet size and chemical composition. These properties are not well known, and this uncertainty contributes to the errors in climate model predictions. Here we derive the first empirical formula that predicts the composition of stratospheric sulfate aerosols from volcanic eruptions from the air temperature and water vapor pressure. Measurements of atmospheric infrared transmittance of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai sulfate aerosol plume by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite were analyzed to determine composition (weight percent of sulfuric acid) and median particle radius. These data are supplemented by measurements of the Raikoke and Nabro eruptions. Our analysis allows the properties of volcanic aerosols in the stratosphere to be predicted reliably in atmospheric models.
Publisher
International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy
Type of Resource
Text
Genre of Resource
Conference Paper / Presentation
Language
eng
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122426
DOI
https://doi.org/10.15278/isms.2023.6723

Owning Collections

Abstracts & Presentations - 2023 International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy PRIMARY