The complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol in
the infrared, visible and ultraviolet
Posted on 2020-01-21 - 16:27
Very fine silicate-rich volcanic ash, generated by explosive volcanic eruptions, can efficiently be traced
downwind with infrared satellite sounders. Their measurements can also be used to derive physical
parameters, such as optical depths and effective radii. However, one of the key requirements for accurate
retrievals is a good knowledge of the complex refractive index (CRI) of the ash under investigation. In
the past, the vast majority of the studies used the CRIs from Pollack et al. (1973), which are based on
measurements of thin slices of volcanic rock, and therefore are not representative for airborne volcanic ash
particles. Here, we report measurements of the CRI of volcanic ash in suspension, generated from samples
collected from recent high-impact eruptions in Chile (Puyehue-Cordón Caulle, Calbuco and Chaitén),
Iceland (Eyjafjallajökull and Grímsvötn) and Italy (Etna). The samples cover a wide range of SiO2 content
(46 to 76%) as confirmed by an X-ray fluorescence analysis. In the experimental setup, volcanic ash was
suspended in nitrogen through mechanical agitation. Extinction spectra were recorded in the infrared,
visible and ultraviolet spectral regions. The particle size distribution within the airflow was recorded as
well. An iterative algorithm allowed to obtain fully consistent CRIs for the six samples, compatible with
the observed extinction spectra and the Kramers-König relations. While a good agreement is found with
other recently reported CRIs in the UV/Vis, larger differences are found in the longwave infrared spectral
region.
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Deguine, Alexandre; Petitprez, Denis; Clarisse, Lieven; Gudmundsson, Snaevarr; Outes, Valeria; Villarosa, Gustavo; et al. (2020). The complex refractive index of volcanic ash aerosol in
the infrared, visible and ultraviolet. Optica Publishing Group. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4665290.v1
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AUTHORS (7)
AD
Alexandre Deguine
DP
Denis Petitprez
LC
Lieven Clarisse
SG
Snaevarr Gudmundsson
VO
Valeria Outes
GV
Gustavo Villarosa
HH
Hervé Herbin