Characterisation of the Near-Field Eyjafjallajökull Volcanic Plume and its Long-range Influence
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
The volcanic plume from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption has caused significant disruption to air transport across Europe. The regulatory response, ensuring aviation safety, depends on dispersion models. The accuracy of the dispersion predictions depend on the intensity of the eruption, on the model representation of the plume dynamics and the physical properties of the ash and gases in the plume. Better characterisation of these processes and properties will require improved understanding of the near-source plume region. This project will bring to bear observations and modelling in order to achieve more accurate and validated dispersion predictions. The investigation will seek to integrate the volcanological and atmospheric science methods in order to initiate a complete system model of the near-field atmospheric processes. This study will integrate new modelling and insights into the dynamics of the volcanic plume and its gravitational equilibration in the stratified atmosphere, effects of meteorological conditions, physical and chemical behaviour of ash particles and gases, physical and chemical in situ measurements, ground-based remote sensing and satellite remote sensing of the plume with very high resolution numerical computational modelling. When integrated with characterisations of the emissions themselves, the research will lead to enhanced predictive capability. The Eyjafjallajökull eruption has now paused. However, all three previous historical eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull were followed by eruptions of the much larger Katla volcano. At least two other volcanic systems in Iceland are 'primed' ready to erupt. This project will ensure that the science and organisational lessons learned from the April/May 2010 response to Eyjafjallajökull are translated fully into preparedness for a further eruption of any other volcano over the coming years. Overall, the project will (a) complete the analysis of atmospheric data from the April/May eruption, (b) prepare for future observations and forecasting and (c) make additional observations if there is another eruption during within the forthcoming few years.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Roy Grainger (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Walker J
(2012)
Improved detection of sulphur dioxide in volcanic plumes using satellite-based hyperspectral infrared measurements: Application to the Eyjafjallajökull 2010 eruption SO 2 FROM EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Carboni E
(2012)
A new scheme for sulphur dioxide retrieval from IASI measurements: application to the Eyjafjallajökull eruption of April and May 2010
in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Pyle, D.M.; Mather, T.A.; Biggs, J
(2013)
Remote Sensing of Volcanoes and Volcanic Processes: Integrating Observation
Grainger R
(2013)
Measuring volcanic plume and ash properties from space
in Geological Society, London, Special Publications
Sears T
(2013)
SO 2 as a possible proxy for volcanic ash in aviation hazard avoidance
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Fromm M
(2014)
Correcting the record of volcanic stratospheric aerosol impact: Nabro and Sarychev Peak
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Ebmeier S
(2014)
Systematic satellite observations of the impact of aerosols from passive volcanic degassing on local cloud properties
in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Piscini A
(2014)
Simultaneous retrieval of volcanic sulphur dioxide and plume height from hyperspectral data using artificial neural networks
in Geophysical Journal International
Schmidt A
(2015)
Satellite detection, long-range transport, and air quality impacts of volcanic sulfur dioxide from the 2014-2015 flood lava eruption at Bárðarbunga (Iceland)
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Maria Elissavet Koukouli
(2015)
Intercomparison of Metop-A SO2 measure- ments during the 2010- 2011 Icelandic eruptions
in Annals of Geophysics
Claudia Spinetti
(2015)
Volcanic SO2 by UV-TIR satellite retrievals: validation by using ground-based network at Mt. Etna
in Annals of Geophysics
Vincent R
(2015)
Vertical level selection for temperature and trace gas profile retrievals using IASI
in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Ball J
(2015)
Measurements of the complex refractive index of volcanic ash at 450, 546.7, and 650 nm
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Ventress L
(2016)
Retrieval of ash properties from IASI measurements
Carboni E
(2016)
The vertical distribution of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> plumes measured by IASI
in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Reed BE
(2016)
Retrieving the real refractive index of mono- and polydisperse colloids from reflectance near the critical angle.
in Optics express
Ventress L
(2016)
Retrieval of ash properties from IASI measurements
in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Reed B
(2017)
Mass extinction spectra and size distribution measurements of quartz and amorphous silica aerosol at 0.33-19 µm compared to modelled extinction using Mie, CDE, and T -matrix theories
in Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer
Miles G
(2017)
Retrieval of volcanic SO<sub>2</sub> from HIRS/2 using optimal estimation
in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Vira J
(2017)
Variational assimilation of IASI SO<sub>2</sub> plume height and total column retrievals in the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull using the SILAM v5.3 chemistry transport model
in Geoscientific Model Development
Reed B
(2018)
The Complex Refractive Index of Volcanic Ash Aerosol Retrieved From Spectral Mass Extinction
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Taylor I
(2018)
Exploring the Utility of IASI for Monitoring Volcanic SO 2 Emissions
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
| Description | They haven't our research is ongoing. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Environment |