Initializing HYSPLIT with satellite observations of volcanic ash: A case study of the 2008 Kasatochi eruption

摘要: The current work focuses on improving volcanic ash forecasts by integrating satellite observations of into the Lagrangian transport and dispersion model, HYSPLIT. accuracy HYSPLIT output is dependent initialization: initial position, size distribution amount as a function time. Satellite from passive infrared, IR, sensors are used both to construct initialization term for verification. Space-based lidar further We compare model produced using different initializations 2008 eruption Kasatochi in Aleutian Islands. Simple source terms, such uniform vertical line or cylindrical above vent, compared derived measurements mass loading, effective radius height downwind cloud. Using column loading constrain produces better long predictions than an empirical equation relating rate plume vent. Even though some quantities, cloud thickness, must be estimated, which release particles at position observed produce comparable with terms located around data, IR retrievals top height, agree well each other, all suggest that evolved complex three dimensional structure.