Balloon Measurements of Stratospheric Aerosol Size Distribution Following a Volcanic Dust Incursion.

Abstract

Stratospheric aerosol size distribution measurements of the volcanic dust layer over Southeastern New Mexico, obtained on a balloon flight on January 21/22, 1975 several months following the Fuego volcanic eruption, are presented and discussed in preliminary fashion. Altitude profiles of all particles broken down into a set of contiguous size ranges indicate the presence of a pronounced concentration peak in the 16-21 Km region. Above this layer a distinct plateau is seen to exist between 22 and 26 Km which appears to be absent at night. This suggests the possibility of sunlight nucleation effects occurring in this altitude regime. A sunrise nucleation experiment conducted above this plateau region at 28 Km shows no evidence of nucleation during the first 1/2 hour following local sunrise. A distinct altitude-dependent size distribution slope in the 23-27 Km region which had been observed on a series of previous flight in May of 1973, appears to have been shifted to higher altitudes (26-28 Km) and is somewhat less pronounced.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA018372

Entities

People

  • Henry A. Miranda Jr.
  • John Dulchinos

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Measurement
  • New Mexico
  • Nucleation
  • Particles
  • Sunlight

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Seismology

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris