Traces of eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano according to data of lidar observations in Tomsk and Surgut

We present the results of lidar measurements of the vertical distribution of optical parameters of anomalous aerosol formations in the atmosphere and the polarization state of backscattered sounding radiation, obtained in Tomsk (56.48°N; 85.05°E) and Surgut (61.25°N; 73.43°E) in April–May 2010. Data from measurements using back trajectory analysis of atmospheric air-mass transport according to the NOAA HYSPLIT MODEL showed that the observed anomalous aerosol formations were due to transport of the products of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption in Iceland (April 14, 2010). First traces of the volcanic eruption were recorded in the troposphere over Tomsk on April 19. The volcanic aerosol persisted in the troposphere for about 10 days in total; it penetrated into the stratosphere insignificantly and could not have noticeable long-term radiation and thermal effects.