Modelling the volcanic ash plume from Eyjafjallajokull eruption (May 2010) over Europe: evaluation of the benefit of source term improvements and of the assimilation of aerosol measurements

Numerical dispersion models are used operationally worldwide to mitigate the effect of volcanic ash on aviation. In order to improve the representation of the horizontal dispersion of ash plumes and of the 3D concentration of ash, a study was conducted using the MOCAGE model during the European Natural Airborne Disaster Information and Coordination System for Aviation (EUNADICS-AV) project. Source term modelling and assimilation of different data were investigated. A sensitivity study of source term formulation showed that a resolved source term, using the FPLUME plume rise model in MOCAGE, instead of a parameterised source term, induces a more realistic representation of the horizontal dispersion of the ash plume. The FPLUME simulation provides more concentrated and focused ash concentrations in the horizontal and the vertical dimensions than the other source term. The assimilation of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol optical depth has an impact on the horizontal dispersion of the plume, but this effect is rather low and local compared to source term improvement. More promising results are obtained with the continuous assimilation of ground-based lidar profiles, which improves the vertical distribution of ash and helps in reaching realistic values of ash concentrations. Using this configuration, the effect of assimilation may last for several hours and it may propagate several hundred kilometres downstream of the lidar profiles.

Automated summary

Numerical dispersion models are used worldwide to mitigate the impact of volcanic ash on aviation. A study using the MOCAGE model during the EUNADICS-AV project showed that a resolved source term formulation using the FPLUME plume rise model provides a more realistic representation of the horizontal dispersion of ash plumes. Assimilation of MODIS aerosol optical depth has a low impact on horizontal dispersion compared to source term improvement, while continuous assimilation of ground-based lidar profiles can improve the vertical distribution of ash concentrations and have a lasting effect downstream.