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| Titel |
Discovery of cyclone induced East-Asian pollution transport to the lower stratosphere by airborne measurements of Fukushima Xe-133 and SO2: Potential implications for aerosol and climate |
| VerfasserIn |
H. Schlager, F. Arnold, R. Baumann, H. Aufmhoff, A. Reiter, H. Simgen, S. Lindemann, L. Rauch, F. Kaether, U. Schumann |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2012
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 14 (2012) |
| Datensatznummer |
250071212
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| Zusammenfassung |
| We report on a novel and decisive experiment to investigate cyclone induced transport of East-Asian polluted planetary boundary layer air to the lower stratosphere. After the Fukushima nuclear power plant complex accident (12-16 March 2011) we have carried out airborne measurements of Fukushima Xe-133, SO2, and other anthropogenic pollutants. The measurements took place over Europe at altitudes up to 12 km. Xe-133 served as an ideal tracer with a well defined lifetime (half-live: 5.25 days) and a well defined release point. In addition we have conducted detailed air mass transport model simulations. Shortly after the accident, the Fukushima plume was lifted by a warm conveyor belt associated with cyclone. Already on 23 March, our first airborne mission detected the Fukushima plume in the lower stratosphere und upper troposphere above Central-Europe. On 14 April our second airborne mission still detected the substantially aged and diluted plume, which now covered most of the Northern-Hemisphere. Since mid-latitude East-Asia represents an important and still growing source of fossil fuel combustion generated SO2, our findings have potentially important implications for UTLS aerosol formation and eventually even for climate and the climate-engineering controversy. |
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