Volcanic ash forecast – application to the May 2008 Chaitén eruption

We model the transport and subsequent deposition of ash from Chaitén volcano, Chile, during the first week of May 2008. The simulation couples the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) meteorological model with the FALL3D dispersion model. We only use semi-quantitative volcanological inputs based o...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: A. Folch, O. Jorba, J. Viramonte
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2008-08-01
Series:Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/8/927/2008/nhess-8-927-2008.pdf
_version_ 1831557523064225792
author A. Folch
O. Jorba
J. Viramonte
author_facet A. Folch
O. Jorba
J. Viramonte
author_sort A. Folch
collection DOAJ
description We model the transport and subsequent deposition of ash from Chaitén volcano, Chile, during the first week of May 2008. The simulation couples the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) meteorological model with the FALL3D dispersion model. We only use semi-quantitative volcanological inputs based on the first eruption reports. We consider two different run types based on forecasted and hindcasted meteorological conditions. The first simulation type can be regarded as a syn-eruptive operational forecast for the 2–8 May period. We predict the evolution of the ash cloud position, the concentration of ash on air, the expected deposit thickness, and the ash accumulation rates at different localities. The comparison of model results with observed cloud arrival times and satellite images shows the goodness of the combined WRF+FALL3D forecast system and points out the feasibility of combining these two models for short-term forecast of volcanic clouds and ash fallout.
first_indexed 2024-12-17T04:52:51Z
format Article
id doaj.art-7ae259426b9648a5970a84df5143f05f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1561-8633
1684-9981
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-17T04:52:51Z
publishDate 2008-08-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
spelling doaj.art-7ae259426b9648a5970a84df5143f05f2022-12-21T22:02:50ZengCopernicus PublicationsNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences1561-86331684-99812008-08-0184927940Volcanic ash forecast – application to the May 2008 Chaitén eruptionA. FolchO. JorbaJ. ViramonteWe model the transport and subsequent deposition of ash from Chaitén volcano, Chile, during the first week of May 2008. The simulation couples the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) meteorological model with the FALL3D dispersion model. We only use semi-quantitative volcanological inputs based on the first eruption reports. We consider two different run types based on forecasted and hindcasted meteorological conditions. The first simulation type can be regarded as a syn-eruptive operational forecast for the 2–8 May period. We predict the evolution of the ash cloud position, the concentration of ash on air, the expected deposit thickness, and the ash accumulation rates at different localities. The comparison of model results with observed cloud arrival times and satellite images shows the goodness of the combined WRF+FALL3D forecast system and points out the feasibility of combining these two models for short-term forecast of volcanic clouds and ash fallout.http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/8/927/2008/nhess-8-927-2008.pdf
spellingShingle A. Folch
O. Jorba
J. Viramonte
Volcanic ash forecast – application to the May 2008 Chaitén eruption
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
title Volcanic ash forecast – application to the May 2008 Chaitén eruption
title_full Volcanic ash forecast – application to the May 2008 Chaitén eruption
title_fullStr Volcanic ash forecast – application to the May 2008 Chaitén eruption
title_full_unstemmed Volcanic ash forecast – application to the May 2008 Chaitén eruption
title_short Volcanic ash forecast – application to the May 2008 Chaitén eruption
title_sort volcanic ash forecast application to the may 2008 chaiten eruption
url http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/8/927/2008/nhess-8-927-2008.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT afolch volcanicashforecastapplicationtothemay2008chaiteneruption
AT ojorba volcanicashforecastapplicationtothemay2008chaiteneruption
AT jviramonte volcanicashforecastapplicationtothemay2008chaiteneruption