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Sulphur dioxide levels fall sharply near Etna

19 November 2002

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Photograph from the International Space Station on 7 November 2002 of the eruption of Mount Etna. Taken by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov on 7 November 2002 during the Odissea mission that included ESA astronaut Frank de Winne.

Credits: NASA

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Observations from Envisat’s Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) instrument on 10 November 2002 provide insight into the levels of sulphur dioxide emitted by the Etna volcano and how they impact the environment in Mediterranean countries.
The colour scale indicates the sulphur dioxide levels in Dobson Units (DUs) used to measure concentrations of gases in the atmosphere.

Credits: University of Bremen/ESA

Sulphur dioxide levels still higher than normal

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Eruptions continue on Mount Etna, in Linguaglossa, near Catania, Italy, Saturday, 2 November 2002. The area around Mount Etna registered some 15 light earthquakes since Thursday night as the volcano continued to sputter hot rock and ash.

Credits: AP Photo/Antonio Calanni

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An analysis of data from Envisat’s Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) acquired 10 November 2002 shows the sulphur dioxide from Africa’s Nyamuragira volcano has been at levels comparable or higher than those observed at Mt. Etna. Located in the eastern Congo, Nyamuragira first erupted on 26 July 2002.
The colour scale indicates the sulphur dioxide levels in Dobson Units (DUs) used to measure concentrations of gases in the atmosphere.

Credits: University of Bremen/ESA

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The total amount of SO2 emitted by the El Reventador volcano is larger than that from Mount Etna by roughly a factor of 4. The smoke and ash plume covers as large an area, with quite large concentrations of sulphur dioxide close to the coast and lower values extending over the ocean. The analysis used data from ESA's GOME instrument on the ERS-2 satellite.

Credits: University of Bremen/ESA

ESA satellites explore Etna's complexity Volcanoes Etna volcano history GOME, ATSR and SAR keep watch over Etna