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Le système volcanique de La Réunion est formé de la coalescence des massifs du Piton des Neiges et du Piton de la Fournaise. Son édification, liée à l’activité d’un panache mantellique, est caractérisée par une phase de croissance sous-marine, puis subaérienne, suivie d’une période de dégénérescence, comme proposé classiquement pour les volcans boucliers océaniques d’Hawaii. De précédentes études ont montré que l’activité subaérienne de La Réunion aurait débuté il y a environ 2,2 Ma. Les analyses géochimiques menées jusqu’alors sur les produits associés à cette activité volcanique (subaérienne et sous-marine) ont montré un caractère chimique transitionnel avec une composition isotopique (87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd et 176Hf/177Hf) particulièrement homogène pour un volcanisme de point chaud. Dans cette étude, nous montrons que des laves sous-marines récemment identifiées sous la série basique du Piton de la Fournaise (au sein de la sur Rift Zone Nord-Est) ainsi que des laves subaériennes affleurant à la base de canyons incisés dans le massif (Série Différenciée de la Rivière des Remparts), présentent des caractéristiques ne s’inscrivant pas dans le modèle d’évolution proposé précédemment pour ce volcan. Se pose donc la question de la nature et de l’origine de ces laves, ainsi que de leur place et appartenance dans l’édification du système volcanique réunionnais. De nouvelles investigations pétro-géochimiques et géochronologiques ont été menées sur la partie sous-marine de l’édifice de La Réunion. Elles révèlent l’existence d’un groupe de laves exceptionnel. Leur composition se distingue clairement de celle des échantillons communément analysés à La Réunion et montre (1) un enrichissement en éléments incompatibles couplé isotopiquement à (2) un rapprochement vers un pôle mantellique enrichi de type EM. Ces particularités géochimiques démontrent que le panache mantellique possède (1) une source hétérogène affectée par (2) des taux de fusion variables. De plus, deux échantillons de ce nouveau groupe datés à 3,77 (0,08) et à 3,34 (0,07) Ma étendent considérablement la période d’activité connue de l’édifice. Ces âges remarquables font de ces laves les plus anciennes jamais datées à La Réunion. La nature géochimique ainsi que la position stratigraphique des laves de cette étude (échantillons subaériens et sous-marins des massifs du Piton des Neiges et du Piton de la Fournaise) impliquent une réinterprétation du schéma d’évolution global de l’île. Contrairement aux études précédentes, nos résultats sur ces laves montrent que : (1) Les laves différenciées de la Rivière des Remparts, qui sont des laves subaériennes, de part leur position stratigraphique et géographique sous-jacente au Piton de la Fournaise et par analogie avec le Piton des Neiges, ne peuvent être reliées à l’activité de la Fournaise, (2) Le signal isotopique du groupe de laves sous-marines de la Rift Zone Nord-Est de la Fournaise, révèlent l’hétérogénéité de la source du panache mantellique sous La Réunion, source que nous identifions comme des enclaves d’éclogite contenues dans une lherzolite à spinelle, (3) L’âge plus ancien de ces laves sous-marines et leur localisation sous le flanc Est de la Fournaise remet en questions le schéma jusqu’alors admis pour l’édification de l’île de La Réunion reposant sur la construction du Piton des Neiges puis celle, adjacente, du Piton de la Fournaise. En conséquence, nos données géochimiques et géochronologiques sont de nouveaux arguments en faveur de l’élaboration d’un modèle d’évolution plus complexe, suggérant l’existence d’un troisième massif volcanique. Il est en accord avec les précédents travaux de pétrologie et de géophysique suggérant l’existence d’un troisième édifice à l’Est de La Réunion, communément appelé le Volcan des Alizés. / The volcanic system of La Reunion is made of the coalescent Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise edifices. Its formation, associated with the activity of a mantle plume, is characterized by phases of submarine and subaerial growth, followed by a period of destruction, as described in the classical model proposed for Hawaiian Island volcanoes. Previous studies showed that the subaerial activity of La Reunion would have started around 2.2 Ma ago. Geochemical analyses carried out on the products associated with subaerial and submarine volcanism revealed their transitional chemical nature and their peculiar homogeneous isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd et 176Hf/177Hf) for a hotspot derived magmatism. In this study, we show that some unusual submarine lavas were recently identified below the basal series of Piton de la Fournaise volcano (dredged on the North-East Rift Zone of la Fournaise) and below the subaerial lavas outcropping at the base of the differentiated series of Rivière des Remparts, indicate that the evolution of La Reunion system is probably more complex than previously suggested. The question of the nature and origin of these lavas, together with their implication on the formation of La Reunion, is an issue of major interest in order to better constrain the global evolution of the volcanic system. As a consequence, new petrological, geochemical and geochronological investigations were conducted on the submarine part of La Reunion edifice. They revealed the existence of a geochemically exceptional group of lavas. Its composition is clearly different from common samples of La Reunion and presents (1) an enrichment in incompatible elements and (2) tends toward an enriched EM endmember. These chemical specificities reveal that the source of La Reunion magmatic products is (1) an heterogeneous source affected by (2) variable melting degrees. Moreover, two samples of this new group dated at 3.77 (0,08) and 3.34 (0,07) Ma extend considerably the period of activity of the island. These rocks are the oldest samples ever dated at La Reunion. The nature and stratigraphical location of subaerial and submarine samples from Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise imply a new interpretation of the global evolution of the island. Unlike previous studies, our results indicate that :(1) The differentiated subaerial lavas from Rivière des Remparts, due to their stratigraphical and geographical location underlying Piton de la Fournaise, and by analogy with the Piton des Neiges, cannot be linked to the activity of Piton de la Fournaise. (2) The isotope signature of the submarine lava group from the North-East Rift Zone of Piton de la Fournaise, reveals the heterogeneous character of the mantle source under La Reunion Island, that can be modelled as embedded eclogite in a matrix of spinel lherzolite, (3) The age of this submarine group and its location under the eastern flank of Piton de la Fournaise, imply a more complex model of evolution of La Reunion. Therefore, our geochemical and geochronological data are new arguments suggesting the existence of a third volcanic center on the island. This assumption confirms the previous petrological and geophysical evidence supporting the existence of this volcano at the East of La Reunion, commonly called Les Alizés volcano.

L'activité volcanique peut représenter une source naturelle de pollution atmosphérique. Cette pollution peut engendrer une dégradation de la qualité de l'air, affecter la santé humaine et perturber la sécurité aérienne. Le Piton de la Fournaise à La Réunion est l'un des volcans basaltique les plus actifs au monde. Ses éruptions sporadiques génèrent des panaches volcaniques essentiellement constitués de gaz et de nanoparticules qui se propagent dans l'atmosphère. En journée, la formation d'oxydants (photolyse) permet d'oxyder une partie du dioxyde de soufre en acide sulfurique. Les molécules d'H2SO4 peuvent réagir avec les molécules d'eau atmosphérique pour former des embryons via la nucléation binaire homogène. Puis, ces embryons grossissent grâce aux processus de condensation et/ou coagulation conduisant alors à la formation d'un aérosol volcanique submicronique. Cette thèse vise à observer, comprendre et modéliser les processus de Formation de Nouvelles Particules (FNP) au sein des panaches volcaniques. De ce fait, elle s'organise en deux parties. La première se base sur les données recueillies lors de la campagne multidisciplinaire STRAP menée à l’observatoire du Maïdo et au Piton de la Fournaise en 2015. Elle expose les résultats issus d’une double analyse de la fréquence et de l’intensité des événements de FNP à l’observatoire. Tandis que la première analyse s’intéresse aux processus en l’absence du panache volcanique, la seconde met en exergue les spécificités de la FNP liées à sa présence au Maïdo. La seconde partie s'axe autour de la modélisation d'abord 0D puis 3D des processus de FNP au sein des panaches volcaniques via le modèle atmosphérique Méso-NH. / Volcanic activity can be a natural source of air pollution. This pollution can lead to a deterioration in air quality, affect human health and disrupt aviation safety. The Piton de la Fournaise in Reunion Island is one of the most active basaltic volcanoes in the world. Its sporadic eruptions generate volcanic plumes consisting mainly of gases and nanoparticles that spread in the atmosphere. During the day, a part of the sulphur dioxide can be oxidized to sulphuric acid thanks to oxidants production (photolysis). H2SO4molecules tend to react with atmospheric water molecules and form clusters via homogeneous binary nucleation. Then, these clusters grow by condensation and/or coagulation processes leading to the formation of a submicronic volcanic aerosol. This thesis aims to observe, understand and model the New Particle Formation (NPF) processes within volcanic plumes. Consequently, it is organized in two parts. The first is based on the data gathered during the multidisciplinary STRAP campaign conducted at both the Maïdo Observatory and Piton de la Fournaise volcano in 2015. It presents the results from a dual analysis of the NPF events frequency and intensity at the observatory. While the first analysis focuses on processes in the absence of the volcanic plume, the second highlights the specificities of the NPF related to the presence of the plume at Maïdo. The second part focuses on 0D then 3D NPF processes modelling within volcanic plumes via the Meso-NH atmospheric model.

The analysis and modeling of the coastal farfield behavior of inlet discharge plumes is the key to understanding the fate of pollutants discharged into the ocean. These plumes disperse in chaotic and unpredictable patterns. Theoretical models are based on the average conditions and calibrated to the results of tracer studies. Data and models for freshwater discharges in coastal ocean systems are limited because of the lack of adequate tracers. On February, 2007, a tracer study was conducted on the Boynton Inlet, Florida, using sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer. The objective of this study is to provide methods of analysis for the sample data collected during the experiment. The detected tracer concentrated in a bolus that migrated north of the inlet at velocities lower than predicted by the current data. The plume was successfully modeled with a Gaussian plume model, with 90% of the SF6 predictions having less than 4.6 pptr error. / by Joaquin Pire-Schmidt. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

A constatação de que muitos cemitérios, a maioria públicos, apresentam problemas e impactam o meio ambiente, poluindo o solo e as águas subterrâneas com contaminantes diversos, tem levado ao aumento dos estudos sobre essas potenciais fontes de poluição. No entanto, apesar de existirem metodologias para a constatação de contaminação do solo e das águas subterrâneas, não existem metodologias específicas, ou mesmo consagradas, para os processos de investigação e estabelecimento da área efetivamente contaminada, fazendo com que muitos sejam os critérios adotados para a investigação e diversificadas sejam as conclusões obtidas. Ainda, em relação à espacialização das plumas de contaminantes, raros são os resultados conclusivos, levando inclusive à preocupação sobre o comportamento dos vários contaminantes já conhecidos no solo, seu caminho até as águas subterrâneas e a real extensão dos impactos, em área e em efeitos deletérios à saúde pública. Este estudo visa demonstrar que a expansão da pluma de contaminantes, e sua área de abrangência, é agravada pela influência de fatores ambientais, físico-geográficos, a partir das características pedológicas, geomorfológicas e climáticas, associadas, dos locais onde estão (ou serão) implantados os cemitérios. Através de levantamento bibliográfico e de pesquisas empíricas foram correlacionadas determinadas características de relevo, clima e solo, presentes nos locais dos cemitérios, elaborando-se cenários de espacialização das plumas de contaminantes e sua possível escala de contaminação e de riscos socioambientais. Três áreas modelo foram selecionadas pelas suas características físico-geográficas diferenciadas e por trabalhos anteriores que definiram seus potencias de contaminação e algumas características físicas (geologia, hidrogeologia e outras): O cemitério de Vila Nova Cachoeirinha (PACHECO, 1991 e MATOS, 2001) e o cemitério de Vila Formosa (PACHECO, 1991), no município de São Paulo, e o cemitério de Areia Branca (PACHECO, 1991), no município de Santos. Concluímos que há influência dos fatores ambientais, físico-geográficos, principalmente do solo e da pluviosidade, na espacialização das plumas de contaminação oriundas dos cemitérios. / The finding that many cemeteries, mostly public, present problems and impact the environment, polluting the soil and groundwater with various contaminants, has led to an increase in studies on these potential sources of pollution. However, although there are methods for the realization of soil and groundwater contamination, there are no specific methodologies, or even dedicated to the research process and establishment of effectively contaminated area, causing many criterias to be the adopted for the research and diversifieds reached conclusions. Still, in relation to the spatial distribution of the plumes of contaminants, there are very few conclusive results, leading even to the concern about the behavior of various contaminants known on the ground, their way to the groundwater and the actual extent of impacts in the area and harmful effects to public health. This study aims to demonstrate that the expansion of the contaminant plume, and its coverage area is exacerbated by the influence of environmental, physical and geographical factors, from soil, geomorphological and climatic characteristics associated, on the places where cemeteries are (or will be) deployed. Through literature and empirical research were correlated certain prominent land relief, climate and soil characteristics, present in local cemeteries, creating spatial scenarios of contaminants plumes and their possible contamination scale and environmental risks. Three model areas were selected for their different physical-geographical characteristics and previous works that defined their potential contamination and some physical characteristics (geology, hydrogeology and others): The Vila Nova Cachoeirinha cemetery (PACHECO, 1991 and MATOS, 2001) and Vila Formosa cemetery (PACHECO, 1991), in São Paulo, and the cemetery of Areia Branca (PACHECO, 1991), in the city of Santos. We conclude that there is influence of environmental factors, physical geography, especially soil and rainfall, in the spatial distribution of contamination plumes coming from the cemeteries.

Les poussières émises par l'industrie métallurgique concourent à la qualité de l'air des zones urbaines voisines. Ces particules, émises par des procédés à "haute température", sont susceptibles d'évoluer rapidement au sein des panaches. L'objectif de l'étude est de caractériser la phase particulaire sur un site d'émission métallurgique et de déterminer la nature et l'amplitude des transformations physico-chimiques subies par ces particules dans les premières minutes de leur émission. Des prélèvements d'aérosols ont été réalisés au sein des cheminées et dans l'environnement proche d'une usine métallurgique (production d'alliage de ferromanganèse), dont l'atelier d'agglomération est le principal émissaire. Le spectre granulométrique des particules dans l'environnement montre un enrichissement de nanoparticules (10-100nm) après survol des masses d'air au dessus du site industriel. Les rejets caractéristiques de l'usine (émission d'oxydes de fer et de manganèse, mais également d'aluminosilicates) se trouvent la plupart du temps sous forme d'agglomérats de composition chimique hétérogène et de structure morphologique complexe. Ces agglomérats semblent évoluer rapidement par adsorption de composés organiques volatils ou de suies. L'étude de la spéciation du Fe et du Mn au sein de ces particules indique qu'elles sont sujettes à des réactions d'oxydation via des mécanismes de conversion gaz/particules au sein même du procédé industriel, aboutissant notamment à une oxydation du fer inversement proportionnelle à la taille des particules. Par contre, aucune évolution significative du degré d'oxydation du Fe et du Mn n'a été observée dans l'environnement proche de l'émissaire. / Steelworks activities are important sources of fine particles which may affect air quality in urban areas close to plants. Those particles are emitted by "high-temperature" processes and could evolve very quickly in the plumes. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the nature and the amplitude of physico-chemical evolutions of those particles in the few minutes after the emission. Aerosol samplings were performed inside the chimneys and in the close environment of a FeMn alloys manufacturing plant where the sintering unit is the most important source of particles. The number size distributions in the close environment show a higher abundance of nanoparticles (10-100nm) inside the plume, by comparison with air masses upwind from the plant. The chemical analysis indicates that particles characteristic of the plant emissions (iron and manganese oxides but also aluminosilicates) are mostly constituted of agglomerates. These agglomerates combine various compounds inside a same particle in a complex structure. Moreover, they evolve rapidly (in a few minutes) after emission by mixing with organic compounds inside the plume. This evolution results from the adsorption of volatile organic compound or the agglomeration with soot particles. The study of iron and manganese speciation inside particles shows that they are prone to oxidation reactions via gas/particle conversion mechanisms during the industrial process, leading notably to a higher iron oxidation state for the smallest particles. However, no change of iron and manganese oxidation state was observed in the close environment of the plant.

This study involves the modeling of small cold-gas (N2) thrusters nozzle and plume flows, their interactions with spacecraft surfaces and the induced pressure environment. These small cold-gas thrusters were used for pitch, yaw and roll control and were mounted on the bottom of the conical Environmental Monitor Payload (EMP) suborbital spacecraft. The pitch and yaw thrusters had 0.906 mm throat diameter and 4.826 mm exit diameter, while the roll thrusters had 1.6 mm throat diameter and 5.882 mm exit diameter. During thruster firing, at altitudes between 670 km and 1200 km, pressure measurements exhibited non-periodic pulses (Gatsonis et al., 1999). The pressure sensor was located inside the EMP and was connected to it's sidewall with a 0.1-m long, 0.022-m diameter tube and the pressure pulses appeared instantaneously with the firings for thrusters without a direct line-of-sight with the sensor entrance. Preliminary analysis showed that the plume of these small EMP thrusters undergoes transition from continuous to rarefied. Therefore, nozzle and plume simulations are performed using a combination of Navier-Stokes and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo codes. This study presents first a validation of the Navier-Stokes code Rampant used for the continuous EMP nozzle and plume simulations. The first Rampant validation example involves a two-dimensional axisymetric freejet expansion and is used to demonstrate the use of Bird's breakdown parameter. Results are compared favorably with those of Bird (1980) obtained through the method of characteristics. The second validation example involves three-dimensional plume simulations of a NASA thruster. This nitrogen nozzle has a throat diameter of 3.18 mm, an exit diameter of 31.8 mm, half-angle of 20 degrees, stagnation temperature of 699 K, stagnation pressure of 6,400 Pa. Simulation results are compared favorably with previous Navier-Stokes and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo numerical work. The third validation example involves three-dimensional simulations of Rothe's (1970) nozzle that has a throat diameter of 2.5 mm, an exit diameter of 20.3 mm, half-angle of 20 degrees, operating at stagnation temperature of 300 K and pressure of 1975 Pa. Numerical results also compared favorably to experimental data. The combined Navier-Stokes/DSMC approach and the EMP simulation results are presented and discussed. The continuous part of the EMP nozzle and plume flow is modeled using the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes Rampant code. The Navier-Stokes domain includes the geometry of the nozzle and the EMP base until transition of the continuous flow established by Bird's breakdown parameter. The rarefied part of the plume flow is modeled using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo code DAC. Flowfield data obtained inside the breakdown surface from the Navier-Stokes simulation are used as inputs to the DSMC simulations. The DSMC domain includes the input surface and the EMP spacecraft geometry. The combined Navier-Stokes/DSMC simulations show the complex structure of the plume flow as it expands over the EMP surfaces. Plume reflection and backflow are demonstrated. The study also summarizes findings presented by Gatsonis et al. (2000), where the DSMC predictions at the entrance of the pressure sensor are used as inputs to a semi-analytical model to predict the pressure inside the sensor. It is shown that the pressure predictions for the pitch/yaw thrusters are close to the measurements. The plume of a pitch or yaw thruster reaches the pressure sensor after expanding on the EMP base. The pressure predicted for the roll thruster is larger that the measured. This is attributed to the uncertainty in the roll thruster location on the EMP base resulting, in the simulation, in a component of direct flow to the sensor.

Les panaches volcaniques de téphras constituent un des aléas volcaniques majeurs. Pour prévoir leur dispersion et les zones d'impacts de leurs retombées, des modèles numériques sont utilisés en opérationnel et basés sur des paramètres éruptifs, regroupés sous la notion de terme source, caractérisant l'émission des panaches. L'ensemble du terme source est cependant difficile à mesurer en temps réel. C'est pourquoi les modèles de dispersion sont souvent basés sur des scénarios d'éruptions passées et utilisent des lois empiriques reliant la hauteur des panaches avec les flux massiques à la source. Cependant, les résultats qui découlent de ces modèles sont peu contraints, moyennés sur la durée des éruptions, et souffrent de larges incertitudes. Dans cette optique, les radars Doppler, capables de sonder l'intérieur des colonnes éruptives avec des échelles spatio-temporelles fines, peuvent fournir des contraintes cruciales sur le terme source des panaches en temps réel. Ce travail de thèse traite des applications de radars volcanologiques dédiés, potentiellement transposables aux radars météorologiques communément utilisés, afin de fournir des paramètres éruptifs à la source des panaches de téphras en surveillance opérationnelle mais également pour contraindre la dynamique des colonnes éruptives et les charges internes des panaches et de leurs retombées. Une campagne de mesures au volcan Stromboli a permis de montrer les capacités d'un couplage innovant entre un disdromètre optique (Parsivel2) avec un nouveau radar Doppler à onde millimétrique (Mini-BASTA). Grâce à l'excellente résolution spatio-temporelle de Mini-BASTA (12,5 m et 1 s), des figures intermittentes de sédimentation ont été observées dans les retombées de panaches transitoires dilués. Observées également au disdromètre mesurant la vitesse et la taille des retombées, ces figures ont été reproduites en laboratoire grâce à un modèle analogique. Un modèle conceptuel de formation de thermiques de sédimentation inversés est proposé pour expliquer ces figures et implique que les processus menant à une sédimentation irrégulière typique des panaches soutenus et concentrés peuvent s'appliquer à des panaches dilués, y compris ceux issus d'éruptions Stromboliennes normales en régime transitoire. Ensuite, une caractérisation physique d'un grand nombre de particules de cendres échantillonnées à Stromboli a permis de valider les mesures de tailles et de vitesses terminales de chutes par disdromètre sur le terrain et en laboratoire, justifiant par ailleurs son utilisation opérationnelle. A partir de ces contraintes, une loi reliant les concentrations de cendres avec les facteurs de réflectivité calculés a pu être comparée aux mesures radar in situ. Les concentrations internes modale et maximale des panaches de Stromboli sont respectivement autour de 1 × 10-5 kg m-3 et 7,45 × 10-4 kg m-3, largement supérieures au seuil fixé pour la sécurité aérienne. Les concentrations en cendres des retombées s’étalent entre 1,87 × 10-8 - 2,42 × 10-6 kg m-3 avec un mode vers 4 × 10-7 kg m-3.Finalement, ce travail de thèse montre les applications opérationnelles du radar UHF VOLDORAD 2B dans le cadre de la surveillance de l'activité de l'Etna. Une méthodologie, applicable à tout radar Doppler, a été développée pour obtenir des flux de masse de téphras en temps réel à partir d’un proxy de masse, uniquement basé sur les vitesses d'éjection et puissances mesurées, calibré avec un modèle de colonne tenant compte de l'influence du vent sur les panaches. La gamme de flux trouvée pour 47 paroxysmes entre 2011 et 2015 s’étend de 2.96 × 104 à 3.26 × 106 kg s-1. A partir d’un autre modèle de colonne éruptive, Plume-MoM, les flux radar ont permis de modéliser des hauteurs des panaches de téphras émis lors de quatre paroxysmes de l'Etna cohérentes avec les observations faites en temps réel par imagerie visible et par radar en bande-X. (...) / Volcanic tephra plumes are one of the major volcanic hazards. To forecast their dispersion and the impact zones of their fallout, the numerical models used in operational monitoring are based on eruptive parameters, called the source term, characterizing the plume emission. Source term parameters are challenging to measure in real time. This is why dispersion models are often based on past eruptive scenarios and use empirical laws that relate plume heights to source mass fluxes. However, the model outputs are not well constrained, averaged over the eruption duration, and suffer from large uncertainties. In this topic, Doppler radars are capable of probing the interior of eruptive columns and plumes at high space-time resolution and can provide crucial constraints on the source term in real time. This thesis deals with applications in operational monitoring of dedicated volcanological radars, potentially transposable to most common meteorological radars, to provide eruptive parameters at the source of tephra plumes but also to constrain the dynamics and internal mass load of eruptive columns, volcanic plumes and their fallout.A measurement campaign at Stromboli volcano has shown the capabilities of an innovative coupling between an optical disdrometer (Parsivel2) and a new 3-mm wave Doppler radar (Mini-BASTA). Owing to its high spatio-temporal resolution (12.5 m and 1 s), intermittent sedimentation patterns were observed in the fallout of dilute transient plumes typical of normal strombolian activity. These features, also recorded with the disdrometer, measuring the particle settling speeds and sizes, were reproduced in the laboratory using an analog model. A conceptual model for the formation of reversed sedimentation thermals is proposed to explain these features. It implies that processes leading to irregular sedimentation typical of sustained concentrated strong plumes can be applied to dilute weak plumes, including those formed by normal transient Strombolian activity. Then, a physical characterization of a large number of ash particles sampled at Stromboli allowed the validation of particle size and terminal velocity measurements by the disdrometer in the field and in the laboratory, arguing in favor of its operational use. Then, a physical characterization of a large number of ash particles sampled at Stromboli allowed to validate the measurements of size and terminal velocity of falls by disdrometer in the field and in laboratory, justifying also its operational use. From these constraints, a law relating ash concentrations with calculated reflectivity factors was found and compared to in situ radar measurements inside ash plumes and fallout. The modal and maximum internal concentrations of Strombolian plumes are at about 1 × 10-5 kg m-3 and 7.5 × 10-4 kg m-3 respectively, well above the threshold for aviation safety. Ash concentrations in the fallout range from 1.9× 10-8 to 2.4 × 10-6 kg m-3 with a mode at about 4 × 10-7 kg m-3.Finally, this thesis work shows operational applications of the UHF VOLDORAD 2B radar for the monitoring of explosive activity at Etna. A methodology, applicable to any Doppler radar, has been developed to obtain tephra mass eruption rates in real time from a mass proxy, based only on measured ejection velocities and power, and calibrated with an eruptive column model taking crosswinds into account. Tephra mass fluxes found for 47 paroxysms between 2011 and 2015 range from 3 × 104 to over 3 × 106 kg s-1. Then, tephra plumes heights of four Etna paroxysms were simulated using the eruptive column model Plume-MoM from the radar-derived mass eruption rates and were found consistent with real-time observations made by visible imagery and by X-band radar. This last part demonstrates the capabilities of VOLDORAD 2B to provide quantitative input parameters for dispersion models in the case of future Etna paroxysms. (...)

High Rayleigh number(Ra) turbulent free convection has many unresolved issues related to the phenomenology behind the flux scaling, the presence of a mean wind and its effects, exponential probability distribution functions, the Prandtl number dependence and the nature of near wall structures. Few studies have been conducted in the high Prandtl number regime and the understanding of near wall coherent structures is inadequate for $Ra > 10^9$. The present thesis deals with the results of investigations conducted on high Rayleigh number turbulent free convection in the high Schmidt number(Sc) regime, focusing on the role of near wall coherent structures. We use a new method of driving the convection using concentration difference of NaCl across a horizontal membrane between two tanks to achieve high Ra utilising the low molecular diffusivity of NaCl. The near wall structures are visualised by planar laser induced fluorescence. Flux is estimated from transient measurement of concentration in the top tank by a conductivity probe. Experiments are conducted in tanks of $15\times15\times 23$cm (aspect ratio,AR = 0.65) and $10\times10\times 23$cm (AR = 0.435). Two membranes of 0.45$\mu$ and 35$\mu$ mean pore size were used. For the fine membrane (and for the coarse membrane at low driving potentials), the transport across the partition becomes diffusion dominated, while the transport above and below the partition becomes similar to unsteady non penetrative turbulent free convection above flat horizontal surfaces (Figure~\ref{fig:schem}(A)). In this type of convection, the flux scaled as $q\sim \Delta C_w ^{4/3}$,where $\Delta C_w$ is the near wall concentration difference, similar to that in Rayleigh - B\'nard convection . Hence, we are able to study turbulent free convection over horizontal surfaces in the Rayleigh Number range of $\sim 10^- 10 ^$ at Schmidt number of 602, focusing on the nature and role of near wall coherent structures. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing clear images of near wall structures in high Rayleigh Number - high Schmidt number turbulent free convection. We observe a weak flow across the membrane in the case of the coarser membrane at higher driving potentials (Figure \ref(B)). The effect of this through flow on the flux and the near wall structures is also investigated. In both the types of convection the near wall structure shows patterns formed by sheet plumes, the common properties of these patterns are also investigated. The major outcomes in the above three areas of the thesis can be summarised as follows \subsection* \label \subsubsection* \label The non-dimensional flux was similar to that reported by Goldstein\cite at Sc of 2750. Visualisations show that the near wall coherent structures are line plumes. Depending on the Rayleigh number and the Aspect ratio, different types of large scale flow cells which are driven by plume columns are observed. Multiple large scale flow cells are observed for AR = 0.65 and a single large scale flow for AR= 0.435. The large scale flow create a near wall mean shear, which is seen to vary across the cross section. The orientation of the large scale flow is seen to change at a time scale much larger than the time scale of one large scale circulation The near wall structures show interaction of the large scale flow with the line plumes. The plumes are initiated as points and then gets elongated along the mean shear direction in areas of larger mean shear. In areas of low mean shear, the plumes are initiated as points but gets elongated in directions decided by the flow induced by the adjacent plumes. The effect of near wall mean shear is to align the plumes and reduce their lateral movement and merging. The time scale for the merger of the near wall line plumes is an order smaller than the time scale of the one large scale circulation. With increase in Rayleigh number, plumes become more closely and regularly spaced. We propose that the near wall boundary layers in high Rayleigh number turbulent free convection are laminar natural convection boundary layers. The above proposition is verified by a near wall model, similar to the one proposed by \cite{tjfm}, based on the similarity solutions of laminar natural convection boundary layer equations as Pr$\rightarrow\infty$. The model prediction of the non dimensional mean plume spacing $Ra_\lambda^~=~\lambda /Z_w~=~91.7$ - where $Ra_\lambda$ is the Rayleigh number based on the plume spacing $\lambda$, and $Z_w$ is a near wall length scale for turbulent free convection - matches the experimental measurements. Therefore, higher driving potentials, resulting in higher flux, give rise to lower mean plume spacing so that $\lambda \Delta C_w^$ or $\lambda q^$ is a constant for a given fluid. We also show that the laminar boundary layer assumption is consistent with the flux scaling obtained from integral relations. Integral equations for the Nusselt number(Nu) from the scalar variance equations for unsteady non penetrative convection are derived. Estimating the boundary layer dissipation using laminar natural convection boundary layers and using the mean plume spacing relation, we obtain $Nu\sim Ra^$ when the boundary layer scalar dissipation is only considered. The contribution of bulk dissipation is found to be a small perturbation on the dominant 1/3 scaling, the effect of which is to reduce the effective scaling exponent. In the appendix to the thesis, continuing the above line of reasoning, we conduct an exploratory re-analysis (for $Pr\sim 1$) of the Grossman and Lohse's\cite scaling theory for turbulent Rayleigh - B\'enard convection. We replace the Blasius boundary layer assumption of the theory with a pair of externally forced laminar natural convection boundary layers per plume. Integral equations of the externally forced laminar natural convection boundary layer show that the mixed convection boundary layer thickness is decided by a $5^{th}$ order algebraic equation, which asymptotes to the laminar natural convection boundary layer for zero mean wind and to Blasius boundary layer at large mean winds. \subsubsection*{Effect of wall normal flow on flux and near wall structures} \label{sec:effect-wall-normal} For experiments with the coarser($35\mu$) membrane, we observe three regimes viz. the strong through flow regime (Figure~\ref{fig:schem}(b)), the diffusion regime (Figure \ref{fig:schem}(a)), and a transition regime between the above two regimes that we term as the weak through flow regime. At higher driving potentials, only half the area above the coarser membrane is covered by plumes, with the other half having plumes below the membrane. A wall normal through flow driven by impingement of the large scale flow is inferred to be the cause of this (Figure \ref{fig:schem}(b)). In this strong through flow regime, only a single large scale flow circulation cell oriented along the diagonal or parallel to the walls is detected. The plume structure is more dendritic than the no through flow case. The flux scales as $\Delta C_w^n$, with $7/3\leq n\leq 3$ and is about four times that observed with the fine membrane. The phenomenology of a flow across the membrane driven by the impingement of the large scale flow of strength $W_*$, the Deardorff velocity scale, explains the cubic scaling. We find the surprising result that the non-dimensional flux is smaller than that in the no through flow case for similar parameters. The mean plume spacings in the strong through flow regime are larger and show a different Rayleigh number dependence vis-a-vis the no through flow case. Using integral analysis, an expression for the boundary layer thickness is derived for high Schmidt number laminar natural convection boundary layer with a normal velocity at the wall. (Also, solutions to the integral equations are obtained for the $Sc\sim 1$ case, which are given as an Appendix.) Assuming the gravitational stability condition to hold true, we show that the plume spacing in the high Schmidt number strong through flow regime is proportional to $\sqrt{Z_w\,Z{_{v_i}}}$, where $Z{_{v_i}}$ is a length scale from the through flow velocity. This inference is fairly supported by the plume spacing measurements At lower driving potentials corresponding to the transition regime, the whole membrane surface is seen to be covered by plumes and the flux scaled as $\Delta C_w^{4/3}$. The non-dimensional flux is about the same as in turbulent free convection over flat surfaces if $\frac{1}{2}\Delta C $ is assumed to occur on one side of the membrane. This is expected to occur in the area averaged sense with different parts of the membrane having predominance of diffusion or through flow dominant transport. At very low driving potentials corresponding to the diffusion regime, the diffusion corrected non dimensional flux match the turbulent free convection values, implying a similar phenomena as in the fine membrane. \subsubsection*{Universal probability distribution of near wall structures} \label{sec:univ-prob-distr} We discover that the probability distribution function of the plume spacings show a standard log normal distribution, invariant of the presence or the absence of wall normal through flow and at all the Rayleigh numbers and aspect ratios investigated. These plume structures showed the same underlying multifractal spectrum of singularities in all these cases. As the multifractal curve indirectly represents the processes by which these structures are formed, we conclude that the plume structures are created by a common generating mechanism involving nucleation at points, growth along lines and then merging, influenced by the external mean shear. Inferring from the thermodynamic analogy of multifractal analysis, we hypothesise that the near wall plume structure in turbulent free convection might be formed so that the entropy of the structure is maximised within the given constraints.

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