New Particle Formation in the Kīlauea Volcanic Plume
HANNAH KENAGY, TREX 2023, TREX 2024, Susanne Hering, Jesse Kroll, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract Number: 492
Working Group: Remote and Regional Atmospheric Aerosol
Abstract
Volcanic emissions include primary aerosol particles as well as gases that can contribute to the formation and growth of particles downwind. Here, we explore new particle formation (NPF) in the volcanic plume from Kīlauea on the Island of Hawai’i. We use two condensation particle counters (CPCs) with different size cut-offs to measure the number concentration of ultrafine particles in the plume. Our measurements indicate that NPF events occurred downwind of Kīlauea during both an eruptive period in January 2023 and a non-eruptive period with low-level volcanic SO2 outgassing in January 2024, and we explore the chemical and meteorological conditions that characterize NPF event days. In addition, through a comparison between CPC and low-cost optical particle counter (OPC) measurements, we explore how OPCs can be used as a probe for NPF events. Finally, we use a low-cost sensor network on the Island of Hawai’i, which includes OPCs, SO2 sensors, and meteorological sensors, to explore the frequency, timing, and geographic extent of NPF events in the Kīlauea plume.