Stratospheric Smoke Rivaling Volcanic Sulfate: The pyroCb Plume of 2017…and Beyond (Invited Presentation)

In some regards the British Columbia pyroCb plume rivaled volcanic sulfate plumes in terms of mass, hemispheric spread, and altitude. This pyroCb plume also rivals some volcanic clouds in other ways. Within two months after injection the plume was observed at altitudes within the Junge layer: 25 km (Θ ~600 K). Considering these factors, this event stands as strong example of a non-volcanic pathway into the lower stratosphere that may contend with medium volcanic eruptions for its stratospheric aerosol perturbation potential.

We will analyze this pyroCb event with an assortment of satellite and ground-based aerosol and gas measurements to characterize the mass, spread, and persistence of this smoke plume. We will also compare the 2017 pyroCb event with other outstanding pyroCb events in the satellite era to assess pyroCb smoke-plume linkage to weather and climate.