Volcanic Plume Evolution and Injection Profiles (VolPlume)

• Applicants: Dr. Akos Horvath; Dr. Gholamali Hoshyaripour, since 2/2023
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 398006378

Modeling the long-term climate impact of volcanic eruptions depends critically on the vertical injection profile of volcanic gases and particles, and on their physicochemical properties. Currently, there is a gap between the high-resolution eruption plume models and global climate models that leads to significant uncertainties in the modeled impacts of volcanic eruptions. This proposal aims to fill this gap by modeling the physical and chemical evolution of the volcanic plume across scales. The overarching scientific goal of the project is to understand the role of volcanic plume development in shaping the initial fate and injection profile of the volcanogenic emissions in case of plinian and sub-plinian eruptions. In the light of the achievements in phase I, a combination of modeling and remote sensing studies are proposed. The ICON-ART (ICOsahedral Nonhydrostatic model with Aerosols and Reactive Trace) modelling system will be further developed and deployed to couple multiphase flow, gas chemistry and aerosol dynamics that enables studying the interplay of chemistry, microphysics, and dynamics in eruption plumes. Besides, ICON-ART model will be equipped with novel parametrizations to account for the morphology, size distribution and composition of the ash particles when dealing with their impacts on the physicochemical and optical evolution of volcanic clouds. In addition, the project will develop strategies and algorithms for constraining the near-field infrared signature and the far-field transport of plumes using the satellite data.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 2820: Revisiting The Volcanic Impact on Atmosphere and Climate – Preparations for the Next Big Volcanic Eruption
• International Connection: Australia, United Kingdom, USA
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Stefan Bühler
• Cooperation Partners: Dr. Michael Herzog; Ralph Kahn, Ph.D.; Dr. Fred Prata
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr. Bernhard Vogel, until 2/2023