The impact of the April 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption on the atmosphere composition in Moscow

Abstract

This paper reports a study of the April 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption on the atmosphere composition in Moscow. Concentrations of some gases, including sulfur dioxide, were measured at a station operated by Moscow University and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics. The impact of this eruption was felt, not only in the composition of the gaseous medium, but also in that of atmospheric precipitation as sampled and analyzed at the Meteorological Observatory of Moscow University. The NOAA hysplit model was used to carry out forward and backward trajectory analyses. It is shown that the descent of air masses during an anticyclone is a necessary condition for reliable recording of volcanic admixtures by ground-based stations.