Lidar observations of volcanic dust over Polish Polar Station at Hornsund after eruptions of Eyjafjallajokull and Grimsvotn

Two significant volcanic eruptions, i.e., Eyjafjallajökull (April-May 2010) and Grímsvötn (May 2011) took place recently in Iceland. Within a few days after eruptions, layers of high aerosol concentration have been observed by multiwavelength lidar of the Polish Polar Station at Hornsund, Svalbard. Measurements of the aerosol’s optical properties indicated a possible presence of volcanic ash transported over the Station. The latter presumption was confirmed by the computed backward trajectories of air masses, showing their paths passing over the location of volcanoes.