1. Characteristics of volcanic plumes
Figure 2: GOES-17 ABI VIS0.6, 13 January 2022. Loop starting at 15:10 UTC. © NESDIS
Large volcanic eruptions affect both weather and the global climate. The dimensions of this impact can be better understood when observed from space (Figure 2). Ejected ash and volcanic gases form plumes that have many commonalities with convective systems, at least in the early eruptive phase. At later stages, volcanic ash trails and gas plumes become their most characteristic feature as they adopt the shape of filaments. These ash and gas plumes can travel long distances.
However, some volcanic eruptions have peculiarities that are not observed in convective systems, such as shockwaves that propagate over long distances and which can be tracked by meteorological satellites. Moreover, volcanic plumes can reach altitudes never observed for convective systems.
In this chapter, we will look at examples of characteristic plume top features that can be observed in satellite imagery during volcanic eruptions.