Using analysis increments to estimate atmospheric heating rates following volcanic eruptions

By using the analysis increments of the temperatures from atmospheric re-an alyses it is possible to roughly estimate the stratospheric radiative heati ng rates from volcanic eruption. The method is applied to the 30 hPa temper ature from the 15 years of the ECMWF-reanalysis. After the influence from t he Quasi Biennial Oscillation is subtracted maximum values of the zonal mea n radiative heating rates related to El Chichon and Pinatubo volcanic erupt ions are estimated to 0.30 K/day and 0.25 K/day, respectively. The estimate d heating rates are not solely due to aerosol heating but includes the effe cts of ozone reduction and geostrophic adjustment as well.