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Report on Atmospheric Effects (1980-1989) — April 1985


Atmospheric Effects (1980-1989)

Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, vol. 10, no. 4 (April 1985)
Managing Editor: Lindsay McClelland.

Atmospheric Effects (1980-1989) Fewer stratospheric aerosols remain over low latitudes

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1985. Report on Atmospheric Effects (1980-1989) (McClelland, L., ed.). Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, 10:4. Smithsonian Institution.



Atmospheric Effects (1980-1989)

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


An airborne lidar mission supporting the SAGE II satellite detected substantially smaller amounts of stratospheric aerosol at low latitudes than an mid-latitudes. Maximum backscattering ratios off the east coasts of Central America and Brazil were similar to those measured over southern California. However, the aerosol layers off Central America and Brazil were narrower, truncated at the base by higher tropopauses characteristic of the tropics, and integrated backscattering at low latitudes was only about 1/3 that over California. Sun photometer data were also collected from the aircraft, and balloons and ozone-sensing rockets were launched from Natal, Brazil.

Data from Mauna Loa, Hawaii showed a continuing gradual decline in stratospheric aerosols, with integrated backscattering at the end of April dropping to little more than half the early March values. Peak backscattering over Fukuoka, Japan declined sharply in early April, but had returned to near late March values by mid-April.

Information Contacts: W. Fuller, NASA; M. Fujiwara, Kyushu Univ., Japan; T. DeFoor, MLO.