Publication Date:
2021-02-17
Description:
The number concentrations and size distributions of aerosol particles 〉0.3 mm
diameter were measured at the summit of Mount Etna and up to 10 km downwind from
the degassing vents during July and August 2004. Aerosol number concentrations reached
in excess of 9 106 L 1 at summit vents, compared to 4–8 104 L 1 in background air.
Number concentrations of intermediate size particles were higher in emissions from the
Northeast crater compared to other summit crater vents, and chemical composition
measurements showed that Northeast crater aerosols contained a higher mineral cation
content compared to those from Voragine or Bocca Nuova, attributed to Strombolian or
gas puffing activity within the vent. Downwind from the summit the airborne plume was
located using zenith sky ultraviolet spectroscopy. Simultaneous measurements indicated a
coincidence of elevated ground level aerosol concentrations with overhead SO2,
demonstrating rapid downward mixing of the plume onto the lower flanks of the volcano
under certain meteorological conditions. At downwind sites the ground level particle
number concentrations were elevated in all size fractions, notably in the 2.0–7.5 mm size
range. These findings are relevant for assessing human health hazard and suggest that
aerosol size distribution measurements may aid volcanic risk management.
Description:
Published
Description:
D10302
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
reserved
Keywords:
aerosols
;
Mount Etna
;
01. Atmosphere::01.01. Atmosphere::01.01.07. Volcanic effects
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
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