Validation of ASH Optical Depth and Layer Height from IASI using Earlinet Lidar Data

D Balis,L Mona,L Clarisse,E Carboni,M Koukouli,L Ventress,N Siomos,R Grainger,G Pappalardo,B Gross,M Arend,F Moshary

doi:10.1051/epjconf/201611907006

Abstract

The 2010 eruptions of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull attracted the attention of the public and the scientific community to the vulnerability of the European airspace to volcanic eruptions. The European Space Agency project “Satellite Monitoring of Ash and Sulphur Dioxide for the mitigation of Aviation Hazards”, called for the creation of an optimal End-to-End System for Volcanic Ash Plume Monitoring and Prediction. This system is based on improved and dedicated satellite-derived ash plume and sulphur dioxide level assessments, as well as an extensive validation, using among others ground-based measurements (Koukouli et al., 2014). The validation of volcanic ash levels and height extracted from IASI/MetopA is presented in this work with emphasis on the ash plume height and ash optical depth levels. European Aerosol Research Lidar Network [EARLINET] lidar measurements are compared to different satellite estimates for two eruptive episodes. The validation results are extremely promising within the estimated uncertainties of each of the comparative datasets.

Highlights

For the validation of the ash plume height as well as the optical depth of the ash plume, LIDAR data from the EARLINET network will were used [http://www.earlinet.org/]
The values of each satellite product have been restricted within an area of variable radius, dependent of the satellite, around each EARLINET station
Only the 532nm Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) LIDAR measurements were used in the following comparisons

Summary

Introduction

For the validation of the ash plume height as well as the optical depth of the ash plume, LIDAR data from the EARLINET network will were used [http://www.earlinet.org/]. For the few satellite products that provided volcanic ash layer height information a comparison of volcanic ash layer height was performed. The AOD of the EARLINET layers was derived by the layers’ integrated backscatter coefficient multiplied by a constant conversion factor (lidar ratio) with a value of 50sr-1.

Results

Conclusion