Volcanic electrification: recent advances and future perspectives

Abstract

The electrification of volcanic plumes has been described intermittently since at least the time of Pliny the Younger and the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius. Although sometimes disregarded in the past as secondary effects, recent work suggests that the electrical properties of volcanic plumes reveal intrinsic and otherwise inaccessible parameters of explosive eruptions. An increasing number of volcanic lightning studies across the last decade have shown that electrification is ubiquitous in volcanic plumes. Technological advances in engineering and numerical modelling, paired with close observation of recent eruptions and dedicated laboratory studies (shock-tube and current impulse experiments), show that charge generation and electrical activity are related to the physical, chemical, and dynamic processes underpinning the eruption itself. Refining our understanding of volcanic plume electrification will continue advancing the fundamental understanding of eruptive processes to improve volcano monitoring. Realizing this goal, however, requires an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of volcanology, atmospheric science, atmospheric electricity, and engineering. Our paper summarizes the rapid and steady progress achieved in recent volcanic lightning research and provides a vision for future developments in this growing field.

Dynamics of the December 2020 Ash‐Poor Plume Formed by Lava‐Water Interaction at the Summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi

“…It can be challenging to distinguish the roles of various charging mechanisms in volcanic plume electrification (Cimarelli & Genareau, 2022; Méndez Harper & Dufek, 2016; Van Eaton et al., 2016). Near‐vent lighting predominantly occurs by silicate charging mechanisms (Cimarelli et al., 2022), while hydrometeor charging in the liquid water‐ice coexistence zone is thought to trigger globally detectable lightning in the upper plume (Van Eaton et al., 2020, 2022). The four lightning flashes detected by webcam during this eruption (three of which were also detected by the satellite‐based Geostationary Lightning Mapper, GLM) occurred after the opening of the north vent around 22:25 HST.…”

The Influence of Grain Size Distribution on Laboratory‐Generated Volcanic Lightning

“…VL is increasingly established and recognized as a tool to monitor volcanic eruptions (Cimarelli et al., 2022). Observations from controlled experiments provide insights into the mechanisms that lead to near‐vent lightning and, hence, what features of the eruption can be inferred (qualitatively and quantitatively) for VL and thereby inform monitoring strategies.…”

Volcanic Island lightning prebiotic chemistry and the origin of life in the early Hadean eon

“…It sent ash, gases, and vaporized sea water in a plume reaching over 50 km into the mesosphere. These components represented the perfect combination of ingredients needed for the electrification of the plume and, thus, the generation of lightning 6 . The result was a stunning 25,508 lightning strikes in 5 min (85/sec), which equaled 170% of the total number of strikes on the Earth at that time 5 .…”