Abstract
Mt. Sakurajima volcanic SO2 plume transport process over the Kyushu island was simulated by Lagrangian particle model based on the wind and turbulence fields simulated by a mesoscale numerical model using four-dimensional data assimilation. Mesoscale numerical model simulated well the general wind fields during the passage of high pressure system, and the complicated local wind circulation within the planetary boundary layer.
Numerical results of plume transport process were compared with SO2 surface and 3-D airborne measurements. It was revealed that simulated 3-D plume behavior explained well the observed SO2 variation, and the day-time development of PBL played an important role for the transport of the volcanic SO2 aloft to the surface level.
