Utilising a LIDAR to detect volcanic ash in the near‐field

• Published in: Weather
• Main Authors: Petersen, Guðrún Nína, von Löwis, Sibylle, Brooks, Barbara, Groves, James, Mobbs, Stephen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2012
• Subjects: Keflavík; Eyjafjallajökull; Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/wea.1911; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fwea.1911; https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/wea.1911

Abstract Although many LIDAR systems in the UK and Continental Europe observed ash during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, no LIDAR was located in Iceland and the question regarding whether LIDARs have potential for near‐field monitoring of explosive eruptions remained unanswered. A LIDAR was therefore deployed in southern Iceland in 2011, by the Icelandic Meteorological Office and the UK National Centre of Atmospheric Science, with the aim of using re‐suspension of volcanic ash as a pilot near‐field programme. When Grímsvötn erupted in 2011 it was moved to Keflavík Airport to monitor the atmosphere above the airport. Here we describe this successful redeployment.