ABSTRACT
On 15 January 2022, the submarine Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption lofted materials high into the upper stratosphere, reaching a record-breaking altitude of â¼58 km, unprecedented in the satellite observations era. Within two weeks, the bulk of the injected material circulated the globe between 20-30 km altitude, as observed by satellite instruments. We estimate that the stratospheric aerosol optical depth (sAOD) is the largest since the Pinatubo eruption and is at least twice as great as the sAOD after the 2015 Calbubo eruption despite the similar SO2 injection from that eruption. We use space-based observations to monitor the Hunga-Tonga volcanic plume evolution and transport at different altitudes as it circulates the globe. While the main aerosol layer remains trapped in the tropical pipe, small parts have already made it to both the northern and southern hemisphere poles by April, which is almost certain to influence this year's ozone hole.
ABSTRACT
Satellite observations have shown that the Asian Summer Monsoon strongly influences the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) aerosol morphology through its role in the formation of the Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer (ATAL). Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II solar occultation and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) lidar observations show that summertime UTLS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) between 13 and 18 km over Asia has increased by three times since the late 1990s. Here we present the first in situ balloon measurements of aerosol backscatter in the UTLS from Western China, which confirm high aerosol levels observed by CALIPSO since 2006. Aircraft in situ measurements suggest that aerosols at lower altitudes of the ATAL are largely composed of carbonaceous and sulfate materials (carbon/sulfur elemental ratio ranging from 2 to 10). Back trajectory analysis from Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization observations indicates that deep convection over the Indian subcontinent supplies the ATAL through the transport of pollution into the UTLS. Time series of deep convection occurrence, carbon monoxide, aerosol, temperature, and relative humidity suggest that secondary aerosol formation and growth in a cold, moist convective environment could play an important role in the formation of ATAL. Finally, radiative calculations show that the ATAL layer has exerted a short-term regional forcing at the top of the atmosphere of -0.1 W/m2 in the past 18 years. KEY POINTS: Increase of summertime upper tropospheric aerosol levels over Asia since the 1990s Upper tropospheric enhancement also observed by in situ backscatter measurements Significant regional radiative forcing of -0.1 W/m2.
ABSTRACT
Bourassa et al. (Reports, 6 July 2012, p. 78) have suggested that deep convection associated with the Asian monsoon played a critical role in transporting sulfur dioxide associated with the Nabro volcanic eruption (13 June 2011) from the upper troposphere (9 to 14 kilometers) into the lower stratosphere. An analysis of the CALIPSO lidar data indicates, however, that the main part of the Nabro volcanic plume was injected directly into the lower stratosphere during the initial eruption well before reaching the Asian monsoon deep convective region.
ABSTRACT
Recent measurements demonstrate that the "background" stratospheric aerosol layer is persistently variable rather than constant, even in the absence of major volcanic eruptions. Several independent data sets show that stratospheric aerosols have increased in abundance since 2000. Near-global satellite aerosol data imply a negative radiative forcing due to stratospheric aerosol changes over this period of about -0.1 watt per square meter, reducing the recent global warming that would otherwise have occurred. Observations from earlier periods are limited but suggest an additional negative radiative forcing of about -0.1 watt per square meter from 1960 to 1990. Climate model projections neglecting these changes would continue to overestimate the radiative forcing and global warming in coming decades if these aerosols remain present at current values or increase.
ABSTRACT
The retrieval of aerosol-size distribution from simulated aerosol-extinction-coefficient measurements of the new satellite instrument, the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III, is investigated. A detailed discussion on the aerosol-size-distribution information content of the SAGE III aerosol-extinction-coefficient measurement is provided. Results of the investigation indicate that unimodal as well as bimodal log-normal size distributions can be inferred. In addition, it is shown that a shape-constraint-free size distribution can be derived from SAGE III aerosol measurements by use of the randomized minimization search technique and the optimal estimation theory.
ABSTRACT
The dependence on bandwidth of the error in estimating both optical depth and extraterrestrial solar flux due to an assumption of Beer's law applicability across finite bandwidths is determined by a numerical integration of Beer's law across the bandwidth. It was found that for 0.1% accuracy, 100-A bandwidths suffice for central wavelengths of 0.45 microm or greater; the maximum width yielding 0.1% accuracy decreases rapidly for shorter wavelengths. The accuracy to which solar elevation angle must be known to yield 0.1% accuracy is also examined and found to be a noteworthy though noncritical effect.
