SAGE II observations of a previously unreported stratospheric volcanic aerosol cloud in the northern polar Summer of 1990

Journal Article · Tue Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GL03376· OSTI ID:6855985

Yue, G K ^[1]; Veiga, R E ^[2]; Wang, P H ^[3]

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1. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (United States)
2. SAIC, Hampton, VA (United States)
3. Science and Technology Corp., Hampton, VA (United States)

Analysis of aerosol extinction profiles obtained by the spaceborne SAGE II sensor reveals that there was an anomalous increase of aerosol extinction below 18.5 km at latitudes poleward of 50[degrees]N from July 28 to September 9, 1990. This widespread increase of aerosol extinction in the lower stratosphere was apparently due to a remote high-latitude volcanic eruption that has not been reported to date. The increase in stratospheric optical depth in the northern polar region was about 50% in August and had diminished by October 1990. This eruption caused an increase in stratospheric aerosol mass of about 0.33 [times] 10[sup 5] tons, assuming the aerosol was composed of sulfuric acid and water. 13 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 6855985
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 21:6; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AEROSOLS
CLOUDS
COLLOIDS
CRYOSPHERE
DISPERSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FLUIDS
GASES
POLAR REGIONS
REMOTE SENSING
SOLS
STRATOSPHERE
VOLCANIC GASES