Studies of the Aftermath of the Strong 2019 Raikoke Volcano Eruption in Central Kuril Islands Using Satellite Data

Abstract—The spatiotemporal distribution of sulfur dioxide content during the strong eruption of the 2019 Raikoke stratovolcano has been studied using various satellite data. The total mass of emitted SO2 at an altitude of 15 km is determined. Based on the analysis of the long-term time series of changes in aerosol optical depth, the influence of stratospheric aerosols on the Earth’s ozone layer is estimated and changes in the ozone content in the atmospheric column are identified. It is shown that, after this volcano eruption, the stratospheric aerosol optical depth increased (up to 2.3), which is associated with the active conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfuric acid and the formation of sulfate aerosol plumes. A sharp decrease in ozone content (by 73 DU) was detected after the end of volcanic activity, which was followed by a significant decrease in temperature in the stratosphere (by 8–17°C). It is found that elevated values of the extracted mass of SO2 persisted for several days after the eruption and then decreased exponentially with time. It is also found that changes in the total column ozone were consistent with variations in stratospheric temperatures.