@article{ref1,
title="Hail formation triggers rapid ash aggregation in volcanic plumes",
journal="Nature communications",
year="2015",
author="Van Eaton, Alexa R. and Mastin, Larry G. and Herzog, Michael and Schwaiger, Hans F. and Schneider, David J. and Wallace, Kristi L. and Clarke, Amanda B.",
volume="6",
number="",
pages="7860-7860",
abstract="During explosive eruptions, airborne particles collide and stick together, accelerating the fallout of volcanic ash and climate-forcing aerosols. This aggregation process remains a major source of uncertainty both in ash dispersal forecasting and interpretation of eruptions from the geological record. Here we illuminate the mechanisms and timescales of particle aggregation from a well-characterized 'wet' eruption. The 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska, incorporated water from the surface (in this case, a glacier), which is a common occurrence during explosive volcanism worldwide. Observations from C-band weather radar, fall deposits and numerical modelling demonstrate that hail-forming processes in the eruption plume triggered aggregation of ∼95% of the fine ash and stripped much of the erupted mass out of the atmosphere within 30 min. Based on these findings, we propose a mechanism of hail-like ash aggregation that contributes to the anomalously rapid fallout of fine ash and occurrence of concentrically layered aggregates in volcanic deposits.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2041-1723",
doi="10.1038/ncomms8860",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8860"
}