The effects of volcanic erruptions on atmospheric chemistry

von Glasow, Roland, Bobrowski, Nicole and Kern, Christoph (2009) The effects of volcanic erruptions on atmospheric chemistry. Chemical Geology, 263 (1-4). pp. 131-142.

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Abstract

Volcanoes are very strong sources of sulphur, acids and other gases, as well as particles, that are of atmospheric relevance. Some gases only behave as passive tracers, others affect the formation, growth or chemical characteristics of aerosol particles and many lead to adverse effects on vegetation and human health when deposited in the vicinity of volcanoes. In this article the main effects of volcanic emissions on atmospheric chemistry are discussed, with a focus on sulphur and halogen compounds, and to a smaller extent on climate. We primarily focus on quiescent degassing but the main effects of explosive eruptions on the troposphere and stratosphere are covered as well. The key distinction between chemistry in magmatic and hydrothermal settings and the atmosphere is that the atmosphere is oxidising whereas the chemistry is typically reducing in the former cases due to very low oxygen concentrations. Rapid catalytic cycles involving radicals are a further characteristic of atmospheric chemistry. Most reaction cycles involve the photolysis of molecules as a key part of the reaction chains. Recent measurements of halogen radicals in volcanic plumes showed that volcanic plumes are chemically very active. We explain the formation mechanism of halogen oxides in plumes as well as their relevance for the atmosphere.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 3 - good health and well-being,sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Volcanoes@UEA (former - to 2018) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Meteorology, Oceanography and Climate Dynamics (former - to 2017) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Atmospheric Chemistry (former - to 2018) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Climate, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Depositing User:	Rachel Snow
Date Deposited:	24 Feb 2011 15:06
Last Modified:	24 Oct 2022 00:32
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/24643
DOI:	10.1016/j.chemgeo.2008.08.020

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