The Evolving Structure of Young Volcanic Eruption Clouds

Abstract:

Processes acting in nascent volcanic clouds within seconds to hours of eruption (e.g., ash aggregation, ice nucleation, gravity waves) set the stage for subsequent advection and diffusion of volcanic ash, hence strongly influence aviation hazards and atmospheric impacts, but are very difficult to observe. Young plumes initially spread by gravity in the crosswind direction due to density differences with the surrounding stratified atmosphere. Subsequently, plumes lose their density contrast with the atmosphere and are advected as lenses of aerosol and gas, slowly thinning, spreading and dispersing as shearing and small scale turbulence act at their margins, and as fine ash settles out. Since 2006, satellite observations from NASA’s A-Train constellation, including the CALIOP lidar and CloudSat radar, have provided tantalizing glimpses of young volcanic clouds in the first few hours of atmospheric residence. These unique observations, although spatially limited, provide insight into the evolving structure of young volcanic clouds from an optically thick, vertically extensive initial state to thin layers confined to a limited altitude range. Layered volcanic clouds may develop due to the existence of alternating turbulent and stable layers in the free troposphere and stratosphere. Turbulent layers retain particles longer than do quiescent layers because the turbulence retains particles in suspension. Particles fall more rapidly through the quiescent layers by single particle settling, or more rapidly because of convective sedimentation. The result is a distinct, banded ash cloud structure. We present A-Train satellite observations of volcanic clouds at various stages of evolution from several recent eruptions (including Kelut, Redoubt, Chaitén, Eyjafjallajökull, Okmok and Kasatochi) and also show the results of preliminary model simulations of the development of volcanic cloud layering.