Lidar observations of Etna volcanic aerosol

Lidar observations of atmospheric aerosols have been performed at IMAA-CNR, Tito Scalo, Southern Italy, during the last two last eruptive events of Etna volcano in July-August 2001 and October-December 2002 periods. For both campaigns, some anomalous layers have been observed at 4 km of height above sea level. Anomalous values of lidar ratio, i.e. extinction to backscatter ratio, respect to those typically measured at IMAA, reveal the presence of aerosol with a different chemical composition and size distribution. Such values have been ascribed to the presence of Etna emitted aerosol.