Volcanic lightning: global observations and constraints on source mechanisms |
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Authors: | Stephen R McNutt Earle R Williams |
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Institution: | (1) Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Drive, P.O. Box 757320, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA;(2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology 48-211, Parsons Laboratory, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA |
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Abstract: | Lightning and electrification at volcanoes are important because they represent a hazard in their own right, they are a component
of the global electrical circuit, and because they contribute to ash particle aggregation and modification within ash plumes.
The role of water substance (water in all forms) in particular has not been well studied. Here data are presented from a comprehensive
global database of volcanic lightning. Lightning has been documented at 80 volcanoes in association with 212 eruptions. The
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) could be determined for 177 eruptions. Eight percent of VEI = 3–5 eruptions have reported
lightning, and 10% of VEI = 6, but less than 2% of those with VEI = 1–2. These findings suggest consistent reporting for larger
eruptions but either less lightning or possible under-reporting for small eruptions. Ash plume heights (142 observations)
show a bimodal distribution with main peaks at 7–12 km and 1–4 km. The former are similar to heights of typical thunderstorms
and suggest involvement of water substance, whereas the latter suggest other factors contributing to electrical behavior closer
to the vent. Reporting of lightning is more common at night (56%) and less common in daylight (44%). Reporting also varied
substantially from year to year, suggesting that a more systematic observational strategy is needed. Several weak trends in
lightning occurrence based on magma composition were found. The bimodal ash plume heights are obvious only for andesite to
dacite; basalt and basaltic-andesite evenly span the range of heights; and rhyolites are poorly represented. The distributions
of the latitudes of volcanoes with lightning and eruptions with lightning roughly mimic the distribution of all volcanoes,
which is generally flat with latitude. Meteorological lightning, on the other hand, is common in the tropics and decreases
markedly with increasing latitude as the ability of the atmosphere to hold water decreases poleward. This finding supports
the idea that if lightning in large (deep) eruptions depends on water substance, then the origin of the water is primarily
magma and not entrainment from the surrounding atmosphere. Seasonal effects show that more eruptions with lightning were reported
in winter (bounded by the respective autumnal and vernal equinoxes) than in summer. This result also runs counter to the expectations
based on entrainment of local water vapor. |
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