1

Vidal L. , S. 2
Nesbitt , P. 3
Salio , S. 1,4
Osores , C. 1
Farias , A. 5
Rodriguez , J. 6
Serra , G. Caranti 7
1National
Meteorological Service - Argentina, 2Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign.
3Atmospheric and Oceanic Research Institute UBA CONICET. Department of Atmospheric Sciences and Oceanography UBA. UMI IFAECI CNRS.
4CONAE-CONICET, 5National Administration of Water Resources Argentina, 6National Institute of Water Resources Semi-arid Region Center
7Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy

1. Motivation & Objective 4. Data processing 6. Vertical cross sections: 2nd eruption
Partial beam blocking (PBB) correction from fixed targets is applied Elev: 0.9 Elev: 1.9
Several volcanic eruptions worldwide have been observed by ground based 23 April 2015 @ 04:04UTC 23 April 2015 @ 04:44UTC
following Fulton et al. (1998). 23 April 2015 @ 07:15UTC
weather radars, however most of these observations were performed by single
polarization radars. Figures show PBB map for three elevation angles as well as DEM map for ZHH ZHH ZHH
comparison. PBB map is used to compensate, up to 60%, the radar
This work shows results of the first massive eruption observed by a dual reflectivity using the simplified obstruction function. Main eruption column
TBBS 23km 23km

Two regions can be Coarse Ash cloud

polarized weather radar in South America related to Calbuco volcano, which DEM [km]
presents ZHH>50 dBZ
observed with ZHH>50 dBZ,
Radar echoes generated by ground clutters (e.g., topography) are filtered Elev: 3.0 between 8 and 12 km amsl,
occurred between 22-23 April 2015. low to moderate HV (~0.75)
one located at 10 km and 19
out applying a threshold on the correlation coefficient. and ZDR generally close to
km amsl.
zero to 1. Main column
Finally, ZDR calibration was double checked during a snowfall case on July
2. Calbuco volcano is located between 7 and 15
17 and 18 2015 obtaining a value close to +4 dB and ZDR vertical point 6km km amsl with similar
structure observed before.
calibration was calculated at +4.26 dB
E W
5. Characterization of eruptions HV HV HV
Time evolution of COLMAX Marzano et al. (2012)
The eruption column shows
showed these characteristics
low to moderate HV values
are associated to small and
23 April 2015 @ 04:04UTC 23 April 2015 @ 04:44UTC 23 April 2015 @ 07:15UTC (0.7-0.85)
large vertically oriented
close to the base and the
Reflectivity echo Coarse ash cloud + lapilli lapilli.
moderate values (0.85-0.9)
extended along a radial + blocks from main column up to 24 km amsl.
Coarse ash
downrange (3-body
plume
scatter - TBBS).
extending
Large targets downwind
within the column from vent
(e.g. coarse lapilli
and fine blocks) ZDR ZDR ZDR
Stratovolcano located in southern Chile with an Radar site Radar site Radar site TBBS can be detected ZDR values from 1 to 1 can ZHH from 0 to 10 dBZ, HV ~1,
altitude of 2003 m amsl. with an important decay observed again denoting the ZDR from 1 to 0 dB are
Mt. Tronador of HV and ZDR. presence of large lapilli and observed close
Calbuco
In the evening, on 22 April 2015 at 21:04 UTC (18:04 3491m amsl The top of vertical column coarse ash vertically and to 15 km
horizontally oriented related
LT), it had the first eruption after more than 50 years. presents HV>0.9 probably
possibly due to the electric downwind
associated with small
field? (Marzano et al., 2012). ash cloud. These values are
Seven hours later, a massive second eruption occurred particles of coarse ash
related to coarse ash cloud
and ice crystals.
on 23 April 2015 at 04:00 UTC (01:00 LT) vertically oriented.
Extreme MaxZHH value from 04UTC Time evolution of lightning stroke rate and echo top
to 10UTC parameters
3. RMA Bariloche Weather Radar High concentration of ash or large
The altitude of volcanic ash core is located around 23 km, The interpretation and evaluation of the geophysical information content of
ash particles polarimetric radar observables is not an easy task, especially if limited to the few
but this value is limited due to VCP.
PARAMETER SPECIFICATION available experimental analyses.

Location 41,14S / 71,15W From the available ash measurements on the ground, a microphysical model of
volcanic clouds for radar observation purposes can be defined in terms of five
Radar Type INVAP RMA Dual Polarisation Weather
main classes (or modes) of ash size: fine ash, coarse ash, small lapilli, large lapilli,
Radar
Total: 1016 strokes
and blocks (Marzano et al., 2013).
Polarisation Dual (Horizontal/Vertical STAR)
Wavelength 5,635 cm (C-band)
Power 350 kW 7. Conclusions
Maximum Range 247 km Total: 93 strokes
Range Bin Spacing 0,5 km The implementation of an algorithm that provide information about classification from coarse ash to
Beam Width 0,98/0,98 degrees blocks particles during volcano eruptions using ground based radar information is a crucial tool for
Pulse Repetition Time 2000 s
Pulse Width 2 s
aviation forecast and emergency managers.
Radar Height 840 m
WWLLN total lightning from 04UTC Time evolution of lightning stroke rate and ZHH areal The sensitivity of this system to particle concentrations could be an important information to be
Beam Elevations 12 elevations from 0,5 to 15,1 degrees
to 10UTC coverage ingested/assimilated in particle dispersion model (e.g. FALL3D, FLEXPART, HYSPLIT, among others).
Recorded Fields Horizontal Reflectivity (ZHH), Radial
Velocity (V), Differential Reflectivity (ZDR), VCP Maximum lightning stroke rate (7:15UTC) is observed This case provides an excellent example that C-band dual polarization radar system can provide emerging
Cross-Correlation Coefficient (HV),
associated with extended defined coarse ash cloud
Differential Phase (DP), Specific
located at 14 km amsl. While the ash plume is growing,
scientific requirement to detect ash and lapilli categories.
Differential Phase (KDP).
main column size is diminishing (from 5:00 UTC).
Task Cycle Time 9 minutes Future work is needed in order to assess the particle evaluations and surface information from field
This result is consistent with McNutt
Distance from Calbuco 124 km
and Williams (2010), lightning is campaigns will be incorporated.
Volcano
especially vigorous when the plume is
>10 km high, and this indicates that
Representation of the theoretical radar ray paths in a
the formation of ice plays an
important role in volcanic lightning. 8. Acknowledgments
range-height reference system for the elevation angles
scanned by the radar antenna. Calbuco Authors would like to thanks to Gustavo Cabrera, Federico Renolfi and Iaki Landerreche from INVAP S.E for control radar
Note that the first four tilts are totally blocked by observations during the volcano eruption and productive discussions. This research is supported by PICT 20131 299, UBACyT
topography. In this case, the radar signal is assumed to 2013201620020130100618BA and ALERT.AR. Radar data was provided by Sistema Nacional de Radares Meteorolgicos
propagate in the standard atmosphere. (SiNaRaMe) project. WWLLN data was provided by Dra. Gabriela Nicora (CITEDEF-CTP/MinDef).