Monitoring of Eyjafjallajökull volcanic aerosol by the new European Skynet Radiometers (ESR) network

The passage of a volcanic plume produced by the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in April 2010 was measured by the sun–sky radiometers of the new European SkyRad (ESR) network. This network consists of several European sites located in the U.K., Poland, Spain and Italy, and therefore was particularly suitable for monitoring the transport of volcanic ash generated by this particular volcano. The atmospheric aerosol characteristics at each site affected by the passage of the volcanic cloud, during and after the eruption, have been reconstructed. For the U.K. ESR sites three events were identified by the sun–sky radiometers: the first, from April 15 to April 16 2010, related to the advection of fine particles; whilst the second, from April 17 to April 19 and the third from April 23 to April 24 related to the arrival of coarse particles. During the transport from Northern Europe to Italy, columnar radiative properties clearly changed due to both deposition and mixing with local aerosol.

► The volcanic plume by Eyjafjallajökull in April 2010 was measured by ESR network.
► In U.K. 3 monitored events: 1st, fine particles; 2nd and 3rd: coarse particles.
► Toward South-Europe: radiative properties change due to deposition and mixing.
► South-Europe: coarse volume concentration lower than in U.K. sites.
► Refractive index closer to the typical local values of each site.