Tracking SO2 plumes from the Tonga volcano eruption with multi-satellite observations

Congzi Xia; Cheng Liu; Zhaonan Cai; Hongyu Wu; Qingxiang Li; Meng Gao

iScience (Apr 2024)

Tracking SO2 plumes from the Tonga volcano eruption with multi-satellite observations

Congzi Xia,
Cheng Liu,
Zhaonan Cai,
Hongyu Wu,
Qingxiang Li,
Meng Gao

Affiliations

Congzi Xia: Institute of Big Data for Vocational Education, Guangdong Polytechnic of Science and Technology, Zhuhai 519000, China; Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Cheng Liu: Key Lab of Environmental Optics and Technology, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Corresponding author
Zhaonan Cai: Key Laboratory of Middle Atmosphere and Global Environment Observation, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
Hongyu Wu: School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Qingxiang Li: School of Atmospheric Sciences and Key Laboratory of Tropical Atmosphere–Ocean System, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai 519082, China
Meng Gao: Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 27, no. 4
p. 109446

Abstract

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Summary: The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano eruption received worldwide attention due to its magnitude and potential effects on environment and climate. However, the operational sulfur dioxide (SO2) products mis-estimated SO2 emissions under volcanic conditions due to large uncertainties in the assumptions of SO2 plume altitude. That might have occurred in previous volcanic eruptions and misled understanding of the evolution of sulfate aerosols in the atmosphere and their impact on global climate. Here, we simultaneously retrieved the volcanic SO2 and its plume altitude from the Troposphere Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and the Environment Monitoring Instrument-2 (EMI-2), exploring the SO2 burden, distribution, and evolution from January 14 to 17. We captured multiple eruptions with the second eruption emitting far more SO2 than the first. Total emissions exceeded 900 kt, significantly higher than those from operational products. Our inferred emission fluxes and injection heights offer valuable references for climate modeling and submarine volcano studies.

Published in iScience

ISSN: 2589-0042 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science
Website: http://www.cell.com/iscience/home

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