Observations of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> from MLS on Aura

Sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) is an important atmospheric constituent, particularly in the aftermath of volcanic eruptions. These events can inject large amounts of SO<sub>2</sub> into the lower stratosphere, where it is oxidised to form sulfate aerosols; these in tur...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: H. C. Pumphrey, W. G. Read, N. J. Livesey, K. Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2015-01-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/8/195/2015/amt-8-195-2015.pdf
_version_ 1811193610076422144
author H. C. Pumphrey
W. G. Read
N. J. Livesey
K. Yang
author_facet H. C. Pumphrey
W. G. Read
N. J. Livesey
K. Yang
author_sort H. C. Pumphrey
collection DOAJ
description Sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) is an important atmospheric constituent, particularly in the aftermath of volcanic eruptions. These events can inject large amounts of SO<sub>2</sub> into the lower stratosphere, where it is oxidised to form sulfate aerosols; these in turn have a significant effect on the climate. The MLS instrument on the Aura satellite has observed the SO<sub>2</sub> mixing ratio in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere from August 2004 to the present, during which time a number of volcanic eruptions have significantly affected those regions of the atmosphere. We describe the MLS SO<sub>2</sub> data and how various volcanic events appear in the data. As the MLS SO<sub>2</sub> data are currently not validated we take some initial steps towards their validation. First we establish the level of internal consistency between the three spectral regions in which MLS is sensitive to SO<sub>2</sub>. We compare SO<sub>2</sub> column values calculated from MLS data to total column values reported by the OMI instrument. The agreement is good (within about 1 DU) in cases where the SO<sub>2</sub> is clearly at altitudes above 147 hPa.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T00:12:16Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0ed29550dd5848568937aa6479284b4c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1867-1381
1867-8548
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T00:12:16Z
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
spelling doaj.art-0ed29550dd5848568937aa6479284b4c2022-12-22T03:55:56ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482015-01-018119520910.5194/amt-8-195-2015Observations of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> from MLS on AuraH. C. Pumphrey0W. G. Read1N. J. Livesey2K. Yang3School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USADepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USASulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) is an important atmospheric constituent, particularly in the aftermath of volcanic eruptions. These events can inject large amounts of SO<sub>2</sub> into the lower stratosphere, where it is oxidised to form sulfate aerosols; these in turn have a significant effect on the climate. The MLS instrument on the Aura satellite has observed the SO<sub>2</sub> mixing ratio in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere from August 2004 to the present, during which time a number of volcanic eruptions have significantly affected those regions of the atmosphere. We describe the MLS SO<sub>2</sub> data and how various volcanic events appear in the data. As the MLS SO<sub>2</sub> data are currently not validated we take some initial steps towards their validation. First we establish the level of internal consistency between the three spectral regions in which MLS is sensitive to SO<sub>2</sub>. We compare SO<sub>2</sub> column values calculated from MLS data to total column values reported by the OMI instrument. The agreement is good (within about 1 DU) in cases where the SO<sub>2</sub> is clearly at altitudes above 147 hPa.http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/8/195/2015/amt-8-195-2015.pdf
spellingShingle H. C. Pumphrey
W. G. Read
N. J. Livesey
K. Yang
Observations of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> from MLS on Aura
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
title Observations of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> from MLS on Aura
title_full Observations of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> from MLS on Aura
title_fullStr Observations of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> from MLS on Aura
title_full_unstemmed Observations of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> from MLS on Aura
title_short Observations of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> from MLS on Aura
title_sort observations of volcanic so sub 2 sub from mls on aura
url http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/8/195/2015/amt-8-195-2015.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT hcpumphrey observationsofvolcanicsosub2subfrommlsonaura
AT wgread observationsofvolcanicsosub2subfrommlsonaura
AT njlivesey observationsofvolcanicsosub2subfrommlsonaura
AT kyang observationsofvolcanicsosub2subfrommlsonaura