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A Model Simulation of Pinatubo Volcanic Aerosols in the StratosphereA one-dimensional, time-dependent model is used to study the chemical, microphysical, and radiative properties of volcanic aerosols produced by the Mount Pinatubo eruption on June 15, 1991. Our model treats gas-phase sulfur photochemistry, gas-to-particle conversion of sulfur, and the microphysics of sulfate aerosols and ash particles under stratospheric conditions. The dilution and diffusion of the volcanic eruption clouds are also accounted for in these conditions. Heteromolecular homogeneous and heterogeneous binary H2SO4/H2O nucleation, acid and water condensational growth, coagulation, and gravitational sedimentation are treated in detail in the model. Simulations suggested that after several weeks, the volcanic cloud was composed mainly of sulfuric acid/water droplets produced in situ from the SO2 emissions. The large amounts of SO2 (around 20 Mt) injected into the stratosphere by the Pinatubo eruption initiated homogeneous nucleation which generated a high concentration of small H2SO4/H2O droplets. These newly formed particles grew rapidly by condensation and coagulation in the first few months and then reach their stabilized sizes with effective radii in a range between 0.3 and 0.5 micron approximately one-half year after the eruption. The predicted volcanic cloud parameters reasonably agree with measurements in term of the vertical distribution and lifetime of the volcanic aerosols, their basic microphysical structures (e.g., size distribution, concentration, mass ratio, and surface area) and radiative properties. The persistent volcanic aerosols can produce significant anomalies in the radiation field, which have important climatic consequences. The large enhancement in aerosol surface area can result in measurable global stratospheric ozone depletion.
Document ID
19980018652
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Zhao , Jing-xia
(Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI United States)
Turco, Richard P.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA United States)
Toon, Owen B.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
April 20, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Publisher: American Geopohysical Union
Volume: 100
Issue: D4
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:207273
NASA/CR-1995-207273
Paper-94JD03325
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGw-3721
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG1-1126
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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