A regional modelling study of halogen chemistry within a volcanic plume of Mt Etna's Christmas 2018 eruption
Authors: Narivelo Herizo , Hamer Paul David , Marécal Virginie , Surl Luke , Roberts Tjarda , Pelletier Sophie , Josse Béatrice , Guth Jonathan , Bacles Mickaël , Warnach Simon , Wagner Thomas , Corradini Stefano , Salerno Giuseppe , Guerrieri Lorenzo 
Published: September 2023

Abstract. Volcanoes are known to be important emitters of atmospheric gases and aerosols, which for certain volcanoes can include halogen gases and in
particular HBr. HBr emitted in this way can undergo rapid atmospheric oxidation chemistry (known as the bromine explosion) within the
volcanic emission plume, leading to the production of bromine oxide (BrO) and ozone depletion. In this work, we present the results of a
modelling study of a volcanic eruption from Mt Etna that occurred around Christmas 2018 and lasted 6 d. The aims of this study are to
demonstrate and evaluate the ability of the regional 3D chemistry transport model Modèle de Chimie Atmosphérique de Grande Echelle (MOCAGE) to simulate the volcanic halogen chemistry in this case
study, to analyse the variability of the chemical processes during the plume transport, and to quantify its impact on the composition of the
troposphere at a regional scale over the Mediterranean basin. The comparison of the tropospheric SO2 and BrO columns from 25 to 30 December 2018 from the MOCAGE simulation with the columns
derived from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) satellite measurements shows a very good agreement for the transport of the plume and a good consistency for the
concentrations if considering the uncertainties in the flux estimates and the TROPOMI columns. The analysis of the bromine species' partitioning and
of the associated chemical reaction rates provides a detailed picture of the simulated bromine chemistry throughout the diurnal cycle and at
different stages of the volcanic plume's evolution. The partitioning of the bromine species is modulated by the time evolution of the emissions
during the 6 d of the eruption; by the meteorological conditions; and by the distance of the plume from the vent, which is equivalent to the time since the
emission. As the plume travels further from the vent, the halogen source gas HBr becomes depleted, BrO production in the plume becomes
less efficient, and ozone depletion (proceeding via the Br+O3 reaction followed by the BrO self-reaction) decreases. The
depletion of HBr relative to the other prevalent hydracid HCl leads to a shift in the relative concentrations of the Br− and
Cl− ions, which in turn leads to reduced production of Br2 relative to BrCl. The MOCAGE simulations show a regional impact of the volcanic eruption on the oxidants OH and O3 with a reduced burden of both
gases that is caused by the chemistry in the volcanic plume. This reduction in atmospheric oxidation capacity results in a reduced CH4
burden. Finally, sensitivity tests on the composition of the emissions carried out in this work show that the production of BrO is higher
when the volcanic emissions of sulfate aerosols are increased but occurs very slowly when no sulfate and Br radicals are assumed to be in the
emissions. Both sensitivity tests highlight a significant impact on the oxidants in the troposphere at the regional scale of these assumptions. All the results of this modelling study, in particular the rapid formation of BrO, which leads to a significant loss of tropospheric ozone,
are consistent with previous studies carried out on the modelling of volcanic halogens.