Airspace Contamination by Volcanic Ash from Sequences of Etna Paroxysms: Coupling the WRF-Chem Dispersion Model with Near-Source L-Band Radar Observations
Volcanic emissions (ash, gas, aerosols) dispersed in the atmosphere during explosive eruptions generate hazards affecting aviation, human health, air quality, and the environment. We document for the first time the contamination of airspace by very fine volcanic ash due to sequences of transient ash...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/15/3760 |
| _version_ | 1827730901116649472 |
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| author | Umberto Rizza Franck Donnadieu Mauro Morichetti Elenio Avolio Giuseppe Castorina Agostino Semprebello Salvatore Magazu Giorgio Passerini Enrico Mancinelli Clothilde Biensan |
| author_facet | Umberto Rizza Franck Donnadieu Mauro Morichetti Elenio Avolio Giuseppe Castorina Agostino Semprebello Salvatore Magazu Giorgio Passerini Enrico Mancinelli Clothilde Biensan |
| author_sort | Umberto Rizza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Volcanic emissions (ash, gas, aerosols) dispersed in the atmosphere during explosive eruptions generate hazards affecting aviation, human health, air quality, and the environment. We document for the first time the contamination of airspace by very fine volcanic ash due to sequences of transient ash plumes from Mount Etna. The atmospheric dispersal of sub-10 μm (PM10) ash is modelled using the WRF-Chem model, coupled online with meteorology and aerosols and offline with mass eruption rates (MERs) derived from near-vent Doppler radar measurements and inferred plume altitudes. We analyze two sequences of paroxysms with widely varied volcanological conditions and contrasted meteorological synoptic patterns in October–December 2013 and on 3–5 December 2015. We analyze the PM10 ash dispersal simulation maps in terms of time-averaged columnar ash density, concentration at specified flight levels averaged over the entire sequence interval, and daily average concentration during selected paroxysm days at these flight levels. The very fine ash from such eruption sequences is shown to easily contaminate the airspace around the volcano within a radius of about 1000 km in a matter of a few days. Synoptic patterns with relatively weak tropospheric currents lead to the accumulation of PM10 ash at a regional scale all around Etna. In this context, closely interspersed paroxysms tend to accumulate very fine ash more diffusively at a lower troposphere and in stretched ash clouds higher up in the troposphere. Low-pressure, high-winds weather systems tend to stretch ash clouds into ~100 km wide clouds, forming large-scale vortices 800–1600 km in diameter. Daily average PM10 ash concentrations commonly exceed the aviation hazard threshold, up to 1000 km downwind from the volcano and up to the upper troposphere for intense paroxysms. Vertical distributions show ash cloud thicknesses in the range 0.7–3 km, and PM10 sometimes stagnates at ground level, which represent a potential health hazard. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:17:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0cae12ef1c4a42d6bac0b41519528e7b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:17:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-0cae12ef1c4a42d6bac0b41519528e7b2023-11-18T23:30:25ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922023-07-011515376010.3390/rs15153760Airspace Contamination by Volcanic Ash from Sequences of Etna Paroxysms: Coupling the WRF-Chem Dispersion Model with Near-Source L-Band Radar ObservationsUmberto Rizza0Franck Donnadieu1Mauro Morichetti2Elenio Avolio3Giuseppe Castorina4Agostino Semprebello5Salvatore Magazu6Giorgio Passerini7Enrico Mancinelli8Clothilde Biensan9National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (CNR-ISAC), 73100 Lecce, ItalyLaboratoire Magmas et Volcans, CNRS, IRD, OPGC, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, FranceNational Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (CNR-ISAC), 73100 Lecce, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (CNR-ISAC), 88046 Lamezia Terme, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA)—Geological Survey of Italy Department, Via Brancati 48, 00144 Roma, ItalyIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)—Sezione di Palermo, Sede Operativa di Milazzo (ME), 98057 Milazzo, ItalyDepartment of Mathematical and Informatics Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences (MIFT), University of Messina, 98166 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyLaboratoire Magmas et Volcans, CNRS, IRD, OPGC, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, FranceVolcanic emissions (ash, gas, aerosols) dispersed in the atmosphere during explosive eruptions generate hazards affecting aviation, human health, air quality, and the environment. We document for the first time the contamination of airspace by very fine volcanic ash due to sequences of transient ash plumes from Mount Etna. The atmospheric dispersal of sub-10 μm (PM10) ash is modelled using the WRF-Chem model, coupled online with meteorology and aerosols and offline with mass eruption rates (MERs) derived from near-vent Doppler radar measurements and inferred plume altitudes. We analyze two sequences of paroxysms with widely varied volcanological conditions and contrasted meteorological synoptic patterns in October–December 2013 and on 3–5 December 2015. We analyze the PM10 ash dispersal simulation maps in terms of time-averaged columnar ash density, concentration at specified flight levels averaged over the entire sequence interval, and daily average concentration during selected paroxysm days at these flight levels. The very fine ash from such eruption sequences is shown to easily contaminate the airspace around the volcano within a radius of about 1000 km in a matter of a few days. Synoptic patterns with relatively weak tropospheric currents lead to the accumulation of PM10 ash at a regional scale all around Etna. In this context, closely interspersed paroxysms tend to accumulate very fine ash more diffusively at a lower troposphere and in stretched ash clouds higher up in the troposphere. Low-pressure, high-winds weather systems tend to stretch ash clouds into ~100 km wide clouds, forming large-scale vortices 800–1600 km in diameter. Daily average PM10 ash concentrations commonly exceed the aviation hazard threshold, up to 1000 km downwind from the volcano and up to the upper troposphere for intense paroxysms. Vertical distributions show ash cloud thicknesses in the range 0.7–3 km, and PM10 sometimes stagnates at ground level, which represent a potential health hazard.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/15/3760WRF-Chem modelMount EtnaVOLDORAD-2B Doppler radarvolcanic ash cloudaviation hazards |
| spellingShingle | Umberto Rizza Franck Donnadieu Mauro Morichetti Elenio Avolio Giuseppe Castorina Agostino Semprebello Salvatore Magazu Giorgio Passerini Enrico Mancinelli Clothilde Biensan Airspace Contamination by Volcanic Ash from Sequences of Etna Paroxysms: Coupling the WRF-Chem Dispersion Model with Near-Source L-Band Radar Observations Remote Sensing WRF-Chem model Mount Etna VOLDORAD-2B Doppler radar volcanic ash cloud aviation hazards |
| title | Airspace Contamination by Volcanic Ash from Sequences of Etna Paroxysms: Coupling the WRF-Chem Dispersion Model with Near-Source L-Band Radar Observations |
| title_full | Airspace Contamination by Volcanic Ash from Sequences of Etna Paroxysms: Coupling the WRF-Chem Dispersion Model with Near-Source L-Band Radar Observations |
| title_fullStr | Airspace Contamination by Volcanic Ash from Sequences of Etna Paroxysms: Coupling the WRF-Chem Dispersion Model with Near-Source L-Band Radar Observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Airspace Contamination by Volcanic Ash from Sequences of Etna Paroxysms: Coupling the WRF-Chem Dispersion Model with Near-Source L-Band Radar Observations |
| title_short | Airspace Contamination by Volcanic Ash from Sequences of Etna Paroxysms: Coupling the WRF-Chem Dispersion Model with Near-Source L-Band Radar Observations |
| title_sort | airspace contamination by volcanic ash from sequences of etna paroxysms coupling the wrf chem dispersion model with near source l band radar observations |
| topic | WRF-Chem model Mount Etna VOLDORAD-2B Doppler radar volcanic ash cloud aviation hazards |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/15/3760 |
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