Articles | Volume 24, issue 20
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11727-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11727-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
21 Oct 2024
Research article |
| 21 Oct 2024
| 21 Oct 2024
Investigating the vertical extent of the 2023 summer Canadian wildfire impacts with satellite observations
Selena Zhang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Susan Solomon
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Chris D. Boone
Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
Ghassan Taha
Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
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Paul A. Nicknish, Kane Stone, Susan Solomon, and Simon A. Carn
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 11535–11555, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11535-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11535-2025, 2025
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Large volcanic eruptions can inject teragrams of sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the stratosphere, influencing stratospheric chemistry and Earth's climate. This work calculates decay timescales of volcanic gas-phase SO2 in the stratosphere using data from three satellite products. SO2 decay timescales vary significantly between the different products, and this uncertainty limits our ability to attribute an observed SO2 decay following an eruption to a specific chemical process.
Sergey Khaykin, Michael Sicard, Thierry Leblanc, Tetsu Sakai, Nickolay Balugin, Gwenael Berthet, Stéphane Chevrier, Fernando Chouza, Artem Feofilov, Dominique Gantois, Sophie Godin-Beekmann, Arezki Haddouche, Yoshitaka Jin, Isamu Morino, Nicolas Kadygrov, Thomas Lecas, Ben Liley, Richard Querel, Ghasssan Taha, and Vladimir Yushkov
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4377, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4377, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
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In April 2024, the Ruang volcano in Indonesia sent large amounts of gas and particles high into the atmosphere, which then spread worldwide. Using the new European EarthCARE satellite and its advanced laser instrument ATLID, together with ground and balloon observations, we tracked how these particles doubled levels in the tropics and spread into both hemispheres. The study shows ATLID’s power to reveal how eruptions can affect climate, clouds, and ozone for more than a year.
Kane Stone, Susan Solomon, Pengfei Yu, Daniel M. Murphy, Douglas Kinnison, and Jian Guan
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 7683–7697, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7683-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7683-2025, 2025
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The Australian 2019–2020 wildfires injected a substantial amount of smoke into the upper atmosphere, causing unusual chemical reactions that altered the chemical makeup of the upper atmosphere. This led to ozone depletion in the Southern Hemisphere midlatitudes that likely did not fully recover until 2 years after the initial event due to the persistent chemical effects of the smoke.
Clair Duchamp, Bernard Legras, Aurélien Podglajen, Pasquale Sellitto, Adam E. Bourassa, Alexei Rozanov, Ghassan Taha, and Daniel J. Zawada
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3355, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3355, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT).
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We analyzed the stratospheric aerosol plume from the 2022 Hunga eruption using satellite lidar data. We implemented a method to retrieve some aerosol properties, as standard products failed in this case. We found very high optical depth values in the days following the eruption, which decreased rapidly but remained elevated for months. Our results are broadly validated, though some satellite products underestimate the values due, in part, to the unusual aerosol size distribution in the plume.
Matthew Wyatt, Peter F. Bernath, Chris Boone, Léo Lavy, and Ryan Johnson
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3116, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3116, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT).
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An improved version (v.5.3) of Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) winds is now available. The wind speeds are determined by use of the Doppler effect. Using a better set of reference molecules to determine the Doppler effect as well as a new method for determining the heading angle (look direction) of the satellite has improved our wind speeds, which has been validated by other instruments. These winds can be used to improve atmospheric models.
Michael D. Himes, Ghassan Taha, Daniel Kahn, Tong Zhu, and Natalya A. Kramarova
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 2523–2536, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-2523-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-2523-2025, 2025
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The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite's Limb Profiler (OMPS LP) yields near-global coverage and information about how aerosols from volcanic eruptions and major wildfires is vertically distributed through the atmosphere. We developed a machine learning method to characterize aerosols using OMPS LP measurements about 60 times faster than the current approach.
Patrick E. Sheese, Kaley A. Walker, Chris D. Boone, and David A. Plummer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5199–5213, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5199-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5199-2025, 2025
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Observations from Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment–Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) are used to examine global stratospheric water vapour trends for 2004–2021. The satellite measurements are used to quantify trend contributions arising from changes in tropical tropopause temperatures, general circulation patterns, and methane concentrations. While most of the observed trends can be explained by these changes, there remains an unaccounted-for and increasing source of water vapour in the lower mid-stratosphere at mid-latitudes, which is discussed.
Laura N. Saunders, Kaley A. Walker, Gabriele P. Stiller, Thomas von Clarmann, Florian Haenel, Hella Garny, Harald Bönisch, Chris D. Boone, Ariana E. Castillo, Andreas Engel, Johannes C. Laube, Marianna Linz, Felix Ploeger, David A. Plummer, Eric A. Ray, and Patrick E. Sheese
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4185–4209, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4185-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4185-2025, 2025
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We present a 17-year stratospheric age-of-air dataset derived from ACE-FTS satellite measurements of sulfur hexafluoride. This is the longest continuous, global, and vertically resolved age of air time series available to date. In this paper, we show that this dataset agrees well with age-of-air datasets based on measurements from other instruments. We also present trends in the midlatitude lower stratosphere that indicate changes in the global circulation that are predicted by climate models.
Hazel Vernier, Demilson Quintão, Bruno Biazon, Eduardo Landulfo, Giovanni Souza, V. Amanda Santos, J. S. Fabio Lopes, C. P. Alex Mendes, A. S. José da Matta, K. Pinheiro Damaris, Benoit Grosslin, P. M. P. Maria Jorge, Maria de Fátima Andrade, Neeraj Rastogi, Akhil Raj, Hongyu Liu, Mahesh Kovilakam, Suvarna Fadnavis, Frank G. Wienhold, Mathieu Colombier, D. Chris Boone, Gwenael Berthet, Nicolas Dumelie, Lilian Joly, and Jean-Paul Vernier
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-924, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-924, 2025
Preprint withdrawn
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The eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai injected large amounts of water vapor and sea salt into the stratosphere, altering traditional views of volcanic aerosols. Using balloon-borne samplers, we collected aerosol samples and found high levels of sea salt and calcium, suggesting sulfate depletion due to gypsum formation. These findings highlight the need to consider sea salt in climate models to better predict volcanic impacts on the atmosphere and climate.
Jiansheng Zou, Kaley A. Walker, Patrick E. Sheese, Chris D. Boone, Ryan M. Stauffer, Anne M. Thompson, and David W. Tarasick
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 6983–7005, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-6983-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-6983-2024, 2024
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Ozone measurements from the ACE-FTS satellite instrument have been compared to worldwide balloon-borne ozonesonde profiles using pairs of closely spaced profiles and monthly averaged profiles. ACE-FTS typically measures more ozone in the stratosphere by up to 10 %. The long-term stability of the ACE-FTS ozone data is good, exhibiting small (but non-significant) drifts of less than 3 % per decade in the stratosphere. Lower in the profiles, the calculated drifts are larger (up to 10 % per decade).
Felicia Kolonjari, Patrick E. Sheese, Kaley A. Walker, Chris D. Boone, David A. Plummer, Andreas Engel, Stephen A. Montzka, David E. Oram, Tanja Schuck, Gabriele P. Stiller, and Geoffrey C. Toon
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 2429–2449, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2429-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2429-2024, 2024
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The Canadian Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier transform spectrometer (ACE-FTS) satellite instrument is currently providing the only vertically resolved chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) measurements from space. This study assesses the most current ACE-FTS HCFC-22 data product in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, as well as modelled HCFC-22 from a 39-year run of the Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model (CMAM39) in the same region.
Yi Wang, Mark Schoeberl, and Ghassan Taha
Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-267, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-267, 2024
Revised manuscript not accepted
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The OMPS-LP satellite instrument assesses aerosol scattering in the atmospheric limb. Using a dual-wavelength extinction coefficient algorithm, we extract stratospheric aerosol vertical profiles from OMPS-LP data. Our study addresses uncertainties and validates these profiles against in-situ balloon data and SAGE-III/ISS retrievals. Investigating the Raikoke and Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruptions, we analyze the evolution of aerosol size and concentration, confirming our method's reliability.
Jian Guan, Susan Solomon, Sasha Madronich, and Douglas Kinnison
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10413–10422, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10413-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10413-2023, 2023
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This paper provides a novel method to obtain a global and accurate photodissociation coefficient for NO2 (J(NO2)) based on satellite data, and the results are shown to be consistent with model results. The J(NO2) value decreases as the solar zenith angle increases and has a weak altitude dependence. A key finding is that the satellite-derived J(NO2) increases in the polar regions, in good agreement with model predictions, due to the effects of ice and snow on surface albedo.
Michael Weimer, Douglas E. Kinnison, Catherine Wilka, and Susan Solomon
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 6849–6861, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6849-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6849-2023, 2023
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We investigate the influence of the number density of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) particles on associated trace gases in the lower stratosphere using data from a satellite, ozonesondes and simulations by a community chemistry climate model. By comparing probability density functions between observations and the model, we find that the standard NAT number density should be reduced for future simulations with the model.
Yi Wang, Mark Schoeberl, Ghassan Taha, Daniel Zawada, and Adam Bourassa
Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-36, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2023-36, 2023
Revised manuscript not accepted
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The OMPS-LP satellite instrument measures aerosol scattering properties across the atmospheric limb. Adopting an algorithm that uses extinction at two wavelengths, we retrieve vertical profiles of particle size and concentration. We demonstrate that these profiles are consistent with in-situ balloon and SAGE-III/ISS satellite measurements. We also show how aerosol size and concentration evolve during Reikoke and Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruptions.
Sarah A. Strode, Ghassan Taha, Luke D. Oman, Robert Damadeo, David Flittner, Mark Schoeberl, Christopher E. Sioris, and Ryan Stauffer
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 6145–6161, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6145-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6145-2022, 2022
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We use a global atmospheric chemistry model simulation to generate scaling factors that account for the daily cycle of NO2 and ozone. These factors facilitate comparisons between sunrise and sunset observations from SAGE III/ISS and observations from other instruments. We provide the scaling factors as monthly zonal means for different latitudes and altitudes. We find that applying these factors yields more consistent comparisons between observations from SAGE III/ISS and other instruments.
Megan Jeramaz Lickley, John S. Daniel, Eric L. Fleming, Stefan Reimann, and Susan Solomon
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 11125–11136, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11125-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-11125-2022, 2022
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Halocarbons contained in equipment continue to be emitted after production has ceased. These
banksmust be carefully accounted for in evaluating compliance with the Montreal Protocol. We extend a Bayesian model to the suite of regulated chemicals subject to banking. We find that banks are substantially larger than previous estimates, and we identify banks by chemical and equipment type whose future emissions will contribute to global warming and delay ozone-hole recovery if left unrecovered.
Catherine Wespes, Gaetane Ronsmans, Lieven Clarisse, Susan Solomon, Daniel Hurtmans, Cathy Clerbaux, and Pierre-François Coheur
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 10993–11007, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10993-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10993-2022, 2022
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The first 10-year data record (2008–2017) of HNO3 total columns measured by the IASI-A/MetOp infrared sounder is exploited to monitor the relationship between the temperature decrease and the HNO3 loss observed each year in the Antarctic stratosphere during the polar night. We verify the recurrence of specific regimes in the cycle of IASI HNO3 and identify the day and the 50 hPa temperature (
drop temperature) corresponding to the onset of denitrification in Antarctic winter for each year.
Patrick E. Sheese, Kaley A. Walker, Chris D. Boone, Adam E. Bourassa, Doug A. Degenstein, Lucien Froidevaux, C. Thomas McElroy, Donal Murtagh, James M. Russell III, and Jiansheng Zou
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 1233–1249, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1233-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1233-2022, 2022
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This study analyzes the quality of two versions (v3.6 and v4.1) of ozone concentration measurements from the ACE-FTS (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer), by comparing with data from five satellite instruments between 2004 and 2020. It was found that although the v3.6 data exhibit a better agreement than v4.1 with respect to the other instruments, v4.1 exhibits much better stability over time than v3.6. The stability of v4.1 makes it suitable for ozone trend studies.
Nick Gorkavyi, Nickolay Krotkov, Can Li, Leslie Lait, Peter Colarco, Simon Carn, Matthew DeLand, Paul Newman, Mark Schoeberl, Ghassan Taha, Omar Torres, Alexander Vasilkov, and Joanna Joiner
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 7545–7563, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7545-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7545-2021, 2021
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The 21 June 2019 eruption of the Raikoke volcano produced significant amounts of volcanic aerosols (sulfate and ash) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas that penetrated into the lower stratosphere. We showed that the amount of SO2 decreases with a characteristic period of 8–18 d and the peak of sulfate aerosol lags the initial peak of SO2 by 1.5 months. We also examined the dynamics of an unusual stratospheric coherent circular cloud of SO2 and aerosol observed from 18 July to 22 September 2019.
Catherine Wilka, Susan Solomon, Doug Kinnison, and David Tarasick
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 15771–15781, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-15771-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-15771-2021, 2021
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We use satellite and balloon measurements to evaluate modeled ozone loss seen in the unusually cold Arctic of 2020 in the real world and compare it to simulations of a world avoided. We show that extensive denitrification in 2020 provides an important test case for stratospheric model process representations. If the Montreal Protocol had not banned ozone-depleting substances, an Arctic ozone hole would have emerged for the first time in spring 2020 that is comparable to those in the Antarctic.
Sampa Das, Peter R. Colarco, Luke D. Oman, Ghassan Taha, and Omar Torres
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 12069–12090, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-12069-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-12069-2021, 2021
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Interactions of extreme fires with weather systems can produce towering smoke plumes that inject aerosols at very high altitudes (> 10 km). Three such major injections, largest at the time in terms of emitted aerosol mass, took place over British Columbia, Canada, in August 2017. We model the transport and impacts of injected aerosols on the radiation balance of the atmosphere. Our model results match the satellite-observed plume transport and residence time at these high altitudes very closely.
Lily N. Zhang, Susan Solomon, Kane A. Stone, Jonathan D. Shanklin, Joshua D. Eveson, Steve Colwell, John P. Burrows, Mark Weber, Pieternel F. Levelt, Natalya A. Kramarova, and David P. Haffner
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 9829–9838, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-9829-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-9829-2021, 2021
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In the 1980s, measurements at the British Antarctic Survey station in Halley, Antarctica, led to the discovery of the ozone hole. The Halley total ozone record continues to be uniquely valuable for studies of long-term changes in Antarctic ozone. Environmental conditions in 2017 forced a temporary cessation of operations, leading to a gap in the historic record. We develop and test a method for filling in the Halley record using satellite data and find evidence to further support ozone recovery.
Patrick E. Sheese, Kaley A. Walker, Chris D. Boone, Doug A. Degenstein, Felicia Kolonjari, David Plummer, Douglas E. Kinnison, Patrick Jöckel, and Thomas von Clarmann
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 1425–1438, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-1425-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-1425-2021, 2021
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Output from climate chemistry models (CMAM, EMAC, and WACCM) is used to estimate the expected geophysical variability of ozone concentrations between coincident satellite instrument measurement times and geolocations. We use the Canadian ACE-FTS and OSIRIS instruments as a case study. Ensemble mean estimates are used to optimize coincidence criteria between the two instruments, allowing for the use of more coincident profiles while providing an estimate of the geophysical variation.
Ghassan Taha, Robert Loughman, Tong Zhu, Larry Thomason, Jayanta Kar, Landon Rieger, and Adam Bourassa
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 1015–1036, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-1015-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-1015-2021, 2021
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This work describes the newly released OMPS LP aerosol extinction profile multi-wavelength Version 2.0 algorithm and dataset. It is shown that the V2.0 aerosols exhibit significant improvements in OMPS LP retrieval performance in the Southern Hemisphere and at lower altitudes. The new product is compared to the SAGE III/ISS, OSIRIS and CALIPSO missions and shown to be of good quality and suitable for scientific studies.
Corinna Kloss, Gwenaël Berthet, Pasquale Sellitto, Felix Ploeger, Ghassan Taha, Mariam Tidiga, Maxim Eremenko, Adriana Bossolasco, Fabrice Jégou, Jean-Baptiste Renard, and Bernard Legras
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 535–560, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-535-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-535-2021, 2021
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The year 2019 was particularly rich for the stratospheric aerosol layer due to two volcanic eruptions (at Raikoke and Ulawun) and wildfire events. With satellite observations and models, we describe the exceptionally complex situation following the Raikoke eruption. The respective plume overwhelmed the Northern Hemisphere stratosphere in terms of aerosol load and resulted in the highest climate impact throughout the past decade.
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Short summary
This paper investigates the vertical impacts of the anomalous 2023 Canadian wildfire season using multiple satellite instruments. Our results highlight that despite a record-breaking area burned, only a small amount of smoke managed to enter the stratosphere. This shows that the conditions for deep convection were rarely met in the 2023 wildfire season, suggesting that even a massive area burned is not necessarily an indicator of stratospheric perturbations.
This paper investigates the vertical impacts of the anomalous 2023 Canadian wildfire season...
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