Effect of Volcanic Activity on the Temperature in the Tropical Upper Atmosphere

Abstract

This article analyzes the volcanic activity influences on temperature change in the tropical upper atmosphere (TUA) using sequential regression, case study and comparison. It is shown that the most volcanoinfluenced area in air temperature is in the 70hPa layer of stratosphere at an altitude of about 22km; and the effect gradually decreases beyond or below the height, while the temperature increases in stratosphere but decreases in troposphere at 300hPa near the tropopause. Volcanic activity contributes 45.7% of total variance to the tropical temperature anomaly at 70hPa altitude. Case study on several volcanoes (i.e. Agung, Pinatubo, and El Chichon) of different intensities was conducted. As much as 80% of the temperature anomaly in the TUA would linger for 20 months. Therefore, volcanism is a strong factor causing temperature change in a long period after the explosion.

Satellite remote sensing of volcanic ash cloud in complicated meteorological conditions

“…The gas in volcanic ash cloud consists of H 2 O, SO 2 , H 2 S, CH 4 , H 2 , He, CO, and HCl, where 60%-90% of them is H 2 O. SO 2 is the major substance to form aerosol, which is easy to be oxidized within several weeks and becomes an acid aerosol particle [17]. Pyroclasts are another large part of volcanic ash cloud.…”

“…The meteorological condition was very complicated during April [14][15][16][17]2010. Eyjafjallajokull volcano and its surrounding were covered with large part of meteorological cloud, causing SWTD method to give false alarm.…”

Volcanic Activity Sparks Arctic Oscillation

“…Strong volcanic eruptions [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] , another natural phenomenon that has an important impact on the Earth's climate, have also captured scientists' attention. A large number of observational studies and numerical Simulation experiments have demonstrated that strong volcanic eruptions, through their stratospheric volcanic dust and aerosols, can signi cantly change the atmospheric radiation budget and affect large-scale and even global climate change [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] .Studies of the impact of volcanic activity on the NORTH Atlantic Oscillation have been completed,indicate ,Due to the middle and lower troposphere to sea level Icelandic low pressure and Azores high winter and summer temperature and pressure eld structure characteristics are basically opposite,The parasol effect of strong volcanic eruptions has led to a general drop in temperatures in the northern and southern waters of the North Atlantic, and caused opposite responses in two circulation systems, the Icelandic Low and the Azores high.For example, in winter, the Iceland low pressure system deepens as the isobaric surface of low altitude temperature drops;Azores high is a shallow system in winter,When the low air temperature drops, the high pressure active area is pressurized by sea level and the high pressure system is strengthened,Thus, the reverse phase oscillation of sea level pressure eld between high and low latitudes is caused, which forms or intensi es the widely in uential phenomenon of north Atlantic oscillation.…”

Mechanism of stratospheric decadal abrupt cooling in the Early 1990s as influenced by the Pinatubo eruption

“…NO 2 ) were repartitioned into less reactive forms (e.g. HNO 3 ) which, in turn, helped to temporarily enhance the levels of active, ozone-depleting chlorine radicals (e.g. ClO) relative to those of more inert chlorine reservoirs (e.g.…”

“…global climate change) and large temporal scales (i.e., seasonal to geological scales), via volcanic aerosols erupted into the stratosphere. The influence of volcanic activities may be greater than that of solar activity and greenhouse gas effects [1][2][3]. To adequately evaluate the relative contribution of anthropogenic and natural forcings on 20th century warming effects, it is necessary to consider the contribution of natural forcings, such as volcanic and solar activities.…”