Abstract:
Volcanic plumes can be transported across vast distances and can have an impact on solar
ultraviolet radiation (UVR) reaching the surface due to the scattering and absorption caused by
aerosols. The dispersion of the volcanic plume from the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic complex
(PCCVC) eruption was investigated to determine the effect on aerosol loading at Cape Point, South
Africa. The eruption occurred on 4 June 2011 and resulted in a plume reaching a height of between
9 and 12 km and was dispersed across the Southern Hemisphere. Satellite sulphur dioxide (SO2)
observations and a dispersion model showed low concentrations of SO2 at the secondary site.
However, satellite observations of volcanic ash and ground-based aerosol measurements did show
increases between 10 and 20 June 2011 at the secondary site. Furthermore, there was good agreement
with the dispersion model results and observations from satellites with most of the plume located
between latitudes 40◦–60◦ South.
