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Precursor gases of aerosols in the Mount St. Helens eruption plumes at stratospheric altitudesNineteen stratospheric samples from the eruption plumes of Mount St. Helens were collected in five flight experiments. The plume samples were collected at various altitudes from 13.1 to 20.7 km by using the Ames cryogenic sampling system on board the NASA U-2 aircraft. The enriched, cryogenically collected samples were analyzed by chromatography. The concentrations of aerosols precursor gases (OCS, SO2, and CS2), CH3Cl, N2O, CF2Cl2, and CFCl3 were measured by gas chromatography. Large enhancement of the mixing ratio of SO2 and moderate enhancement of CS2 and OCS were found in the plume samples compared with similar measurement under pre-volcanic conditions. A fast decay rate of the SO2 mixing ratio in the plume was observed. Measurement of Cl(-), SO2(2-), and NO3(-) by ion chromatography was also carried out on water solutions prepared from the plume samples. The results obtained with this technique imply large mixing ratios of HCl, (NO + NO2 + HNO3), and SO2, in which these constituents are the respective sources of the anions. Measurement of the Rn222 concentration in the plume was made. Other stratospheric constituents in the plume samples, such as H2O, CO2, CH4, and CO, were also observed.
Document ID
19830003269
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Inn, E. C. Y.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Vedder, J. F.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Condon, E. P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Ohara, D.
(LFE Corp.)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1982
Publication Information
Publication: Atmospheric Effects and Potential Climatic Impact of the 1980 Eruptions of Mt. St. Helens
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
83N11539
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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