Volcanic ash, El Chichón

Practical significance

Interpretation of remote sensing data. Analogues of other planets' atmospheric dust, and dust in comets, asteroids, and circumstellar shells.

Origin

El Chichon volcano in Mexico. The particles were collected at a few kilometers from the vent within 24 hours after an eruption in 1982.

Main constituent
Volcanic silicate ash.
Color
Very similar to Pinatubo color
Particle size Fraunhofer: reff (μm)
3.2
Particle size Fraunhofer: veff
5.4
Size distribution plot:
Size Distribution El Chichón
Size distribution table
Particle shape

Irregular

Scattering matrix (1) wavelength in nm
632.80 nm
Scattering matrix (1) table
Scattering matrix (1) plot:
Scattering matrix elements El Chichón
Refractive index

Estimated to be in the range [1.5-1.6] + i0.001.

Angle range (deg)
[5,173]
Reference/s