Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Effects of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption on the radiative and chemical processes in the troposphere and stratosphere

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7086603

The LLNL 2-D zonally averaged chemical-radiative transport model of the global atmosphere was used to study the effects of the June 15, 1991 eruption of the Mt. Pinatubo volcano on stratospheric processes. SAGE-11 time-dependent aerosol surface area density and optical extinction data were used as input into the model. By the winter solstice, 1991, a maximum change in column ozone was observed in the equatorial region of {minus}2% (with heterogeneous chemical reactions on sulfuric acid aerosols) and {minus}5.5% (including heterogeneous reactions plus radiative feedbacks). Maximum local ozone decreases of 12% were derived in the equatorial region, at 25 km, for winter solstice 1991. Column NO{sub 2} peaked ({minus}14%) at 30 S in October 1991. Local concentrations of NO{sub x}, Cl{sub x}, and HO{sub x}, in the lower stratosphere, were calculated to have changed between 30 S and 30 N by {minus}40%, +80%, and +60% respectively.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
7086603
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JC-108956; CONF-9206262--4; ON: DE92019618
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English