@article{3069507, title = "Detecting volcanic sulfur dioxide plumes in the Northern Hemisphere using the Brewer spectrophotometers, other networks, and satellite observations", author = "Zerefos, C.S. and Eleftheratos, K. and Kapsomenakis, J. and Solomos, S. and Inness, A. and Balis, D. and Redondas, A. and Eskes, H. and Allaart, M. and Amiridis, V. and Dahlback, A. and De Bock, V. and Diémoz, H. and Engelmann, R. and Eriksen, P. and Fioletov, V. and Gröbner, J. and Heikkilä, A. and Petropavlovskikh, I. and JarosÅawski, J. and Josefsson, W. and Karppinen, T. and Köhler, U. and Meleti, C. and Repapis, C. and Rimmer, J. and Savinykh, V. and Shirotov, V. and Siani, A.M. and Smedley, A.R.D. and Stanek, M. and Stübi, R.", journal = "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics", year = "2017", volume = "17", number = "1", pages = "551-574", publisher = "Copernicus GmbH", issn = "1680-7316, 1680-7324", doi = "10.5194/acp-17-551-2017", keywords = "air quality; detection method; instrumentation; Northern Hemisphere; observational method; satellite data; spectrophotometry; sulfur dioxide; troposphere; volcanic eruption, Europe", abstract = "This study examines the adequacy of the existing Brewer network to supplement other networks from the ground and space to detect SO2plumes of volcanic origin. It was found that large volcanic eruptions of the last decade in the Northern Hemisphere have a positive columnar SO2signal seen by the Brewer instruments located under the plume. It is shown that a few days after the eruption the Brewer instrument is capable of detecting significant columnar SO2increases, exceeding on average 2-DU relative to an unperturbed pre-volcanic 10-day baseline, with a mean close to 0 and σ Combining double low line 0.46, as calculated from the 32 Brewer stations under study. Intercomparisons with independent measurements from the ground and space as well as theoretical calculations corroborate the capability of the Brewer network to detect volcanic plumes. For instance, the comparison with OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) and GOME-2 (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2) SO2space-borne retrievals shows statistically significant agreement between the Brewer network data and the collocated satellite overpasses in the case of the Kasatochi eruption. Unfortunately, due to sparsity of satellite data, the significant positive departures seen in the Brewer and other ground networks following the Eyjafjallajökull, Bár∂arbunga and Nabro eruptions could not be statistically confirmed by the data from satellite overpasses. A model exercise from the MACC (Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate) project shows that the large increases in SO2over Europe following the Bár∂arbunga eruption in Iceland were not caused by local pollution sources or ship emissions but were clearly linked to the volcanic eruption. Sulfur dioxide positive departures in Europe following Bár∂arbunga could be traced by other networks from the free troposphere down to the surface (AirBase (European air quality database) and EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network)). We propose that by combining Brewer data with that from other networks and satellites, a useful tool aided by trajectory analyses and modelling could be created which can also be used to forecast high SO2values both at ground level and in air flight corridors following future eruptions. © Author(s) 2017." }