Report of Falcon Flight 19 April 2010

Report of Falcon Flight 19 April 2010

Report of Falcon Flight 19 April 2010
U. Schumann, H. Schlager, B. Weinzierl, O. Reitebuch, A. Minikin, H. Huntrieser, T.
Sailer, H. Mannstein
DLR-Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Oberpfaffenhofen

A successful Falcon measurement flight was performed on 19 April 2010 for probing
plumes over Germany from the Iceland Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption. Layers of
volcanic ash were detected by Lidar and probed in-situ with aerosol instruments.
Under suitable viewing conditions, the ash layer was visible as a brownish layer to
the observer. The horizontal and vertical distributions of the volcano layers were
variable. In the plume layers particles larger than 3µm were detected at
concentrations, not present in the free troposphere during unpolluted conditions. The
concentrations of large particles measured in the volcano layers are comparable to
concentrations measured typically in Saharan dust plumes but smaller compared to
particle concentrations in the polluted boundary layer. An estimation of the particle
mass concentration in the volcanic ash plume probed as part of a vertical profile over
Leipzig at about 4 km altitude yield 60 µg/m3.

After the flight the Falcon was inspected. So far no damages were observed including
engines (after boroscopy) and windows. Further engine inspection is ongoing. Silver
foils attached to under-wing stations showed no visible impact from volcanic ash.

Comment: Finally some scientific facts in this ocean of confusion around the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

tags: Falcon flight DLR volcano eruption Iceland volcanic ash Eyjafjallajökull troposphere pollution airspace grounding particle 2010