Global Changes Associated with the Mt. Pinatubo Eruption and Biomass Burning

本研究的重点是利用新开发的球囊传感器评估最近皮纳图博火山喷发对全球大气的长期影响，特别是其对全球和极地臭氧消耗、全球光学深度变化、大气温度变化以及对全球对流层气溶胶的可能影响。这项研究还将有助于描述全球火山云的特征，以便将其与过去的火山爆发进行适当的比较。在北半球和南半球的一个中纬度站，将有系统地用气球探测气溶胶和臭氧，同时也进行其他辅助测量。作为一个额外的机会，对流层气溶胶和臭氧的变化也将进行系统的研究。据信，这种变化可以追溯到生物质燃烧时期，并且在世界范围内对对流层化学非常重要。

This research is focused on using a newly developed balloon borne sensor for evaluating the long term global atmospheric effects of the recent Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption, especially in regard to its influence on global and polar ozone depletion, global optical depth changes, atmospheric temperature variations, and the possible influence on global tropospheric aerosols. The research will also help characterize the global volcanic cloud so that it can be put in proper perspective for comparison with past volcanic eruptions. Systematic balloon sounding of aerosol and ozone will be made at a mid-latitude station in both the northern and southern hemisphere where other supporting measurements are also being made. As an additional opportunity, variations of tropospheric aerosols and ozone will also be systematically investigated. It is believed that such variations can be traced to biomass burning episodes and are highly significant in regard to tropospheric chemistry on a world scale.