New particle formation in the volcanic eruption plume of the Piton de la Fournaise: specific features from a long-term dataset

Volcanic eruption plumes significantly enhance new particle formation (NPF), a key atmospheric process influencing cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations. A long-term dataset from the Piton de la Fournaise volcano on La Réunion Island revealed NPF occurred on 90% of plume days compared to 71% of non-plume days, with higher particle formation rates and secondary particle dominance (93%) in volcanic conditions. The study also demonstrated that SO₂ mixing ratios alone can estimate nucleation rates, suggesting a critical role for H₂SO₄ in NPF. This research provides unprecedented insights into volcanic aerosol dynamics, offering valuable data for climate models to better define pre-industrial atmospheric conditions.

Rose, C., Foucart, B., Picard, D., Colomb, A., Metzger, J.-M., Tulet, P., & Sellegri, K. (2019). New particle formation in the volcanic eruption plume of the Piton de la Fournaise: specific features from a long-term dataset. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 19(20), 13243–13265. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-13243-2019