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Solar Mesosphere Explorer satellite measurements of el Chichon stratospheric aerosols. 2: Aerosol mass and size parametersSpatially and temporally extensive observations of the stratospheric aerosol cloud produced by the eruption of el Chichon in 1982 were made by the Solar Mesosphere Explorer satellite. Measurements of thermal emission at 6.8 microns are inverted to give aerosol extinction coefficients. At this wavelength the extinction coefficient is proportional to the cube of the particle radius, so the measured radiance is proportional to the slant column mass density of aerosols, independent of size distribution. Vertical column mass densities of aerosols and total aerosol mass are found from the 6.8-microns data. The evolution of the aerosol cloud in time and space is discussed. A peak column mass density above 22 km of 0.43 g/sq m occurred near 20 deg N latitude 8 weeks after the eruption. A maximum total global aerosol burden above 22 km of 1.3 x 10(exp 13) g occurred a week later. The aerosol mass determinations are used in conjunction with observations of scattered sunlight from the aerosols at 1.27 and 1.87 microns to derive single-mode log normal columnar size distributions for the aerosol cloud. The results are presented and the time evolution of the particle sizes is discussed.
Document ID
19950034633
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Eparvier, F. G.
(Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO United States)
Rusch, D. W.
(Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO United States)
Clancy, R. T.
(Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO United States)
Thomas, G. E.
(Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
October 20, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 99
Issue: D10
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
95A66232
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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