References

ACPD

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions

ACPD

1680-7375

Copernicus GmbH

Göttingen, Germany

10.5194/acpd-7-2857-2007

Extended observations of volcanic SO2 and sulfate aerosol in the stratosphere

Carn

S. A.

¹ Krotkov

N. A.

² Yang

² Hoff

R. M.

² Prata

A. J.

³ Krueger

A. J.

¹ Loughlin

S. C.

⁴ ⁵ Levelt

P. F.

⁶

Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET), University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Baltimore, MD 21250, USA

Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology (GEST) center, UMBC, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA

Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), PO Box 100, 2027 Kjeller, Norway

Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Flemming, Montserrat, WI, USA

British Geological Survey, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3LA, UK

Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), 3730 AE De Bilt, The Netherlands

23 02 2007

7 1 2857 2871

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Sulfate aerosol produced after injection of sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions can trigger climate change. We present new satellite data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) missions that reveal the composition, structure and longevity of a stratospheric SO2 cloud and derived sulfate layer following a modest eruption (0.2 Tg total SO2) of Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat on 20 May 2006. The SO2 cloud alone was tracked for over 3 weeks and a distance of over 20 000 km; unprecedented for an eruption of this size. Derived sulfate aerosol at an altitude of ~20 km had circled the globe by 22 June and remained visible in CALIPSO data until at least 6 July. These synergistic NASA A-Train observations permit a new appreciation of the potential effects of frequent, small-to-moderate volcanic eruptions on stratospheric composition and climate.

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