Wy. Zhong et al., INFRARED HEATING RATES IN THE STRATOSPHERE DUE TO VOLCANIC SULFUR-DIOXIDE, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 122(534), 1996, pp. 1459-1466
A narrow-band radiative-transfer model is used to assess potential inf
rared cooling rates due to SO2 injected into the stratosphere by volca
nic eruptions. In addition to SO2 profiles representing the eruptions
of El Chichon and Pinatubo, two hypothetical SO2 profiles following a
massive volcanic eruption are used. The net radiative impact of the SO
2 depends on the vertical distribution as well as the altitude and mag
nitude of its injection. For broader distributions the magnitudes of t
he infrared heating rates are comparable with those due to heating cau
sed by the absorption of solar ultraviolet by SO2 tending to enhance t
he hearing of the lower stratosphere and reduce it in the upper strato
sphere. These results are explained in terms of the relative strengths
of the SO2 bands and of those of H2O and O-3 overlapping in the same
spectral regions.