Gas ash-particle separation and the role of particle aggregation in volcanic plumes

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A complex numerical plume model will be used to characterize and quantify the fate of volcanic gases and particles involcanic eruption plumes. The overall aim of the project is to improve and extend existing one-dimensional volcanicplume models to better capture the multiphase nature of such plumes by including critical processes such assedimentation. Simple integral plume models already play an important role in initialising atmospheric dispersion modelsfor operational forecasting of volcanic ash clouds, and this project will have clear practical benefits for future volcanic riskmanagement. This project will make use of a model specifically designed for 3D simulation of volcanic plumes, the ActiveTracer High-resolution Atmospheric Model (ATHAM). The first part of the project will involve development of the ashaggregation module to incorporate the effects of electrically-charged ash particles. This will then enable novel studies ofthe effects of sedimentation and aggregation. Findings will be used to improve models used at the Met Office foroperational ash cloud forecasting.