Direct injection of water vapor into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions

Abstract While theoretical studies show that water vapor (WV) can be directly injected into the stratosphere during a volcanic eruption, few observations of such a phenomenon exist. The Microwave Limb Sounder observed stratospheric injection of WV following the 2015 Calbuco eruption. Lower stratosph...

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Main Authors: Christopher E. Sioris, Alain Malo, Chris A. McLinden, Real D'Amours
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-07-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069918
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author Christopher E. Sioris
Alain Malo
Chris A. McLinden
Real D'Amours
author_facet Christopher E. Sioris
Alain Malo
Chris A. McLinden
Real D'Amours
author_sort Christopher E. Sioris
collection DOAJ
description Abstract While theoretical studies show that water vapor (WV) can be directly injected into the stratosphere during a volcanic eruption, few observations of such a phenomenon exist. The Microwave Limb Sounder observed stratospheric injection of WV following the 2015 Calbuco eruption. Lower stratospheric mixing ratios exceeded 10 ppmv for a few days downwind of the injection location. Plume transport is confirmed by back trajectory modeling. Due to the short duration and limited spatial extent of the enhancement, climatic impact is expected to be negligible. This letter provides spatiotemporal analysis of a volcanogenic pulse of lower stratospheric WV as it dispersed. The inferred mass of stratospheric WV from this eruption of 2 megaton (Mt) and the rapid evanescence of the enhancement are similar to what has been observed for other eruptions, suggesting that injection by moderately explosive eruptions is not an effective mechanism for large‐scale stratospheric hydration.
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issn 0094-8276
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-2131daa934cb4912b92006c5d7f2d0f92025-08-20T03:49:41ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072016-07-0143147694770010.1002/2016GL069918Direct injection of water vapor into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptionsChristopher E. Sioris0Alain Malo1Chris A. McLinden2Real D'Amours3Environment and Climate Change Canada Toronto Ontario CanadaEnvironment and Climate Change Canada Dorval Quebec CanadaEnvironment and Climate Change Canada Toronto Ontario CanadaEnvironment and Climate Change Canada Dorval Quebec CanadaAbstract While theoretical studies show that water vapor (WV) can be directly injected into the stratosphere during a volcanic eruption, few observations of such a phenomenon exist. The Microwave Limb Sounder observed stratospheric injection of WV following the 2015 Calbuco eruption. Lower stratospheric mixing ratios exceeded 10 ppmv for a few days downwind of the injection location. Plume transport is confirmed by back trajectory modeling. Due to the short duration and limited spatial extent of the enhancement, climatic impact is expected to be negligible. This letter provides spatiotemporal analysis of a volcanogenic pulse of lower stratospheric WV as it dispersed. The inferred mass of stratospheric WV from this eruption of 2 megaton (Mt) and the rapid evanescence of the enhancement are similar to what has been observed for other eruptions, suggesting that injection by moderately explosive eruptions is not an effective mechanism for large‐scale stratospheric hydration.https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069918remote sensingwater vaporstratospherevolcanic eruption
spellingShingle Christopher E. Sioris
Alain Malo
Chris A. McLinden
Real D'Amours
Direct injection of water vapor into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions
Geophysical Research Letters
remote sensing
water vapor
stratosphere
volcanic eruption
title Direct injection of water vapor into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions
title_full Direct injection of water vapor into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions
title_fullStr Direct injection of water vapor into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions
title_full_unstemmed Direct injection of water vapor into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions
title_short Direct injection of water vapor into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions
title_sort direct injection of water vapor into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions
topic remote sensing
water vapor
stratosphere
volcanic eruption
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069918
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AT alainmalo directinjectionofwatervaporintothestratospherebyvolcaniceruptions
AT chrisamclinden directinjectionofwatervaporintothestratospherebyvolcaniceruptions
AT realdamours directinjectionofwatervaporintothestratospherebyvolcaniceruptions