Volcanic eruptions

Aerosols originating from volcanic emissions have an impact on the climate: sulfate and ash particles from volcanic emissions reflect solar radiation, act as cloud condensation and ice nuclei, and modify the radiative properties and lifetime of clouds, and therefore influence the precipitation cycle. These volcanic particles can also have an impact on environmental conditions and could be very dangerous for aircraft in flight.

In addition to the routine measurements, further EARLINET observations are devoted to monitor volcano eruptions. The EARLINET volcanic dataset includes extended observations related to two different volcanoes in Europe Mt. Etna (2001 and 2002 eruptions), and the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland (April - May 2010 eruption) and Grimsvotn in 2011. This dataset includes also recent events of volcanic eruptions in the North Pacific region (2008-2010) that emitted sulfuric acid droplets into the upper troposphere - lower stratosphere (UTLS) height region of the northern hemisphere.

During the crisis related to volcanic eruptions in 20101 an d 2011, EARLINET provided daily a report about the observation (and non observation) of the volcanic cloud over the stations reporting also information about the altitude where volcanic particles were observed.

 

- Grimsvötn eruption, 2011

- Eyjafjallajökull eruption, 2010