Publication Date:
2022-06-09
Description:
The emission of gases and aerosols due to volcanic activity may impact significantly atmospheric
composition, cloud occurrence and properties, and the regional and global climate. While the effects of
strong explosive (stratospheric) eruptions are relatively well known, limited information on the impacts
of small to moderate volcanic activities, including passive degassing, is available. In this paper, the
downwind impact of Mount Etna's sulfur emissions on the central Mediterranean is investigated on a
statistical basis over the period 2000e2013 using: (a) daily sulfur dioxide emission rates measured near
crater at Mount Etna with ground-based ultraviolet spectrophotometers, (b) Lagrangian trajectories and
simulated plume dispersion obtained with the FLEXPART (FLEXible PARTicle dispersion) model, and (c)
long-term observations of column SO2 concentration and aerosol Ångstr€om exponent a at Lampedusa
(35.5 N, 12.6 E). This statistical analysis has allowed, for the first time, the characterization of decadal
impact of Mount Etna's sulfur emissions on the sulfur dioxide and the aerosol microphysical/optical
properties in the central Mediterranean. On average, statistically significant higher SO2 concentrations
and smaller aerosol sizes are present when air masses from Mount Etna overpass Lampedusa. Despite
being upwind of Lampedusa for only 5% of the time, Mount Etna is potentially responsible for up to 40%
and 20% of the SO2 and a extreme values (exceedances of a fixed threshold), respectively, at this location.
The most important factor determining this perturbation is the prevailing dynamics, while the magnitude
of the SO2 emission rates from Mount Etna appears to be likely important only for relatively strong
emissions. The observed perturbations to the aerosol size distribution are expected to produce a direct
regional radiative effect in this area.
Description:
Published
Description:
77-88
Description:
6V. Pericolosità vulcanica e contributi alla stima del rischio
Description:
JCR Journal
Keywords:
04.08. Volcanology
;
01.01. Atmosphere
;
climatology
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
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