Reconstructing volcanic radiative forcing since 1990, using a comprehensive emission inventory and spatially resolved sulfur injections from satellite data in a chemistry-climate model
<p>This paper presents model simulations of stratospheric aerosols with a focus on explosive volcanic eruptions. Using various (occultation and limb-based) satellite instruments, providing vertical profiles of sulfur dioxide (SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub&...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/23/1169/2023/acp-23-1169-2023.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797945204005666816 |
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| author | J. Schallock C. Brühl C. Bingen M. Höpfner L. Rieger J. Lelieveld |
| author_facet | J. Schallock C. Brühl C. Bingen M. Höpfner L. Rieger J. Lelieveld |
| author_sort | J. Schallock |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>This paper presents model simulations of stratospheric aerosols with a focus on explosive volcanic eruptions.
Using various (occultation and limb-based) satellite instruments, providing vertical profiles of sulfur dioxide (SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>) and aerosol extinction, we characterized the chemical and radiative influence of volcanic aerosols for the period between 1990 and 2019.</p>
<p>We established an improved and extended volcanic SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> emission inventory that includes more than 500 explosive volcanic eruptions reaching the upper troposphere and the stratosphere.
Each perturbation identified was derived from the satellite data and incorporated as a three-dimensional SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> plume into a chemistry-climate model without the need for additional assumptions about altitude distribution and eruption duration as needed for a “point source” approach.</p>
<p>The simultaneous measurements of SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> and aerosol extinction by up to four satellite instruments enabled a reliable conversion of extinction measurements into injected SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>.
In the chemistry-climate model, the SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> from each individual plume was converted into aerosol particles and their optical properties were determined.
Furthermore, the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the instantaneous radiative forcing on climate were calculated online. Combined with model improvements, the results of the simulations are consistent with the observations of the various satellites.</p>
<p>Slight deviations between the observations and model simulations were found for the large volcanic eruption of Pinatubo in 1991 and cases where simultaneous satellite observations were not unique or too sparse.
Weak- and medium-strength volcanic eruptions captured in satellite data and the Smithsonian database typically inject about 10 to 50 <span class="inline-formula">kt</span> SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> directly into the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) region or the sulfur species are transported via convection and advection. Our results confirm that these relatively minor eruptions, which occur quite frequently, can nevertheless contribute to the stratospheric aerosol layer and are relevant for the Earth's radiation budget.
These minor eruptions cause a total global instantaneous radiative forcing of the order of <span class="inline-formula">−0.1</span> <span class="inline-formula">W m<sup>−2</sup></span> at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) compared to a background stratospheric aerosol forcing of about <span class="inline-formula">−0.04</span> <span class="inline-formula">W m<sup>−2</sup></span>.
Medium-strength eruptions injecting about 400 <span class="inline-formula">kt</span> SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> into the stratosphere or accumulation of consecutive smaller eruptions can lead to a total instantaneous forcing of about <span class="inline-formula">−0.3</span> <span class="inline-formula">W m<sup>−2</sup></span>. We show that it is critical to include the contribution of the extratropical lowermost stratospheric aerosol in the forcing calculations.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:51:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90ef1db0ee494475881133872bd4f9de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:51:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-90ef1db0ee494475881133872bd4f9de2023-01-23T11:25:12ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242023-01-01231169120710.5194/acp-23-1169-2023Reconstructing volcanic radiative forcing since 1990, using a comprehensive emission inventory and spatially resolved sulfur injections from satellite data in a chemistry-climate modelJ. Schallock0C. Brühl1C. Bingen2M. Höpfner3L. Rieger4J. Lelieveld5Atmospheric Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyAtmospheric Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, GermanyRoyal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, Brussels, BelgiumInstitute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute of Space and Atmospheric Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CanadaAtmospheric Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany<p>This paper presents model simulations of stratospheric aerosols with a focus on explosive volcanic eruptions. Using various (occultation and limb-based) satellite instruments, providing vertical profiles of sulfur dioxide (SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>) and aerosol extinction, we characterized the chemical and radiative influence of volcanic aerosols for the period between 1990 and 2019.</p> <p>We established an improved and extended volcanic SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> emission inventory that includes more than 500 explosive volcanic eruptions reaching the upper troposphere and the stratosphere. Each perturbation identified was derived from the satellite data and incorporated as a three-dimensional SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> plume into a chemistry-climate model without the need for additional assumptions about altitude distribution and eruption duration as needed for a “point source” approach.</p> <p>The simultaneous measurements of SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> and aerosol extinction by up to four satellite instruments enabled a reliable conversion of extinction measurements into injected SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>. In the chemistry-climate model, the SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> from each individual plume was converted into aerosol particles and their optical properties were determined. Furthermore, the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and the instantaneous radiative forcing on climate were calculated online. Combined with model improvements, the results of the simulations are consistent with the observations of the various satellites.</p> <p>Slight deviations between the observations and model simulations were found for the large volcanic eruption of Pinatubo in 1991 and cases where simultaneous satellite observations were not unique or too sparse. Weak- and medium-strength volcanic eruptions captured in satellite data and the Smithsonian database typically inject about 10 to 50 <span class="inline-formula">kt</span> SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> directly into the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) region or the sulfur species are transported via convection and advection. Our results confirm that these relatively minor eruptions, which occur quite frequently, can nevertheless contribute to the stratospheric aerosol layer and are relevant for the Earth's radiation budget. These minor eruptions cause a total global instantaneous radiative forcing of the order of <span class="inline-formula">−0.1</span> <span class="inline-formula">W m<sup>−2</sup></span> at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) compared to a background stratospheric aerosol forcing of about <span class="inline-formula">−0.04</span> <span class="inline-formula">W m<sup>−2</sup></span>. Medium-strength eruptions injecting about 400 <span class="inline-formula">kt</span> SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> into the stratosphere or accumulation of consecutive smaller eruptions can lead to a total instantaneous forcing of about <span class="inline-formula">−0.3</span> <span class="inline-formula">W m<sup>−2</sup></span>. We show that it is critical to include the contribution of the extratropical lowermost stratospheric aerosol in the forcing calculations.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/23/1169/2023/acp-23-1169-2023.pdf |
| spellingShingle | J. Schallock C. Brühl C. Bingen M. Höpfner L. Rieger J. Lelieveld Reconstructing volcanic radiative forcing since 1990, using a comprehensive emission inventory and spatially resolved sulfur injections from satellite data in a chemistry-climate model Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Reconstructing volcanic radiative forcing since 1990, using a comprehensive emission inventory and spatially resolved sulfur injections from satellite data in a chemistry-climate model |
| title_full | Reconstructing volcanic radiative forcing since 1990, using a comprehensive emission inventory and spatially resolved sulfur injections from satellite data in a chemistry-climate model |
| title_fullStr | Reconstructing volcanic radiative forcing since 1990, using a comprehensive emission inventory and spatially resolved sulfur injections from satellite data in a chemistry-climate model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reconstructing volcanic radiative forcing since 1990, using a comprehensive emission inventory and spatially resolved sulfur injections from satellite data in a chemistry-climate model |
| title_short | Reconstructing volcanic radiative forcing since 1990, using a comprehensive emission inventory and spatially resolved sulfur injections from satellite data in a chemistry-climate model |
| title_sort | reconstructing volcanic radiative forcing since 1990 using a comprehensive emission inventory and spatially resolved sulfur injections from satellite data in a chemistry climate model |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/23/1169/2023/acp-23-1169-2023.pdf |
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