Calendar Event Details
AEROCENTER: Verity Flower
Affiliation: NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, Code 613
Event Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Location: G133
Time: 11:00 AM
Synergistic use of NASA satellite sensors for the assessment of volcanic emissions
Satellite remote sensing measurements represent a global data source for the investigation of a variety of geophysical phenomena. This presentation will highlight the strengths of multi-sensor assessments for both ongoing volcanic activity and the investigation of individual volcanic plumes.
The assessment of ongoing volcanic activity incorporates over 10 years of data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and two Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors. Time-series analysis techniques were employed to assess these satellite data, facilitating the identification of cyclical patterns in volcanic emissions. A review of the initial assessment of Soufriere Hills Volcano (SHV; Montserrat) used to validate the methodology will be conducted. SHV was selected as the initial test case due to cyclical dome growth during the data availability period and the availability of extensive ground-based analyses for comparison. The subsequently extension of this work to 31 active volcanoes resulted in the identification of dominant cyclicity, external forcing, variations in cyclical dynamics over time and the classification of major SO2 emissions source in a complex volcanic region. In addition to cycles of volcanic origin, cycles common to the instruments used (period of ~2.3 days) were also ascertained. These sensor cycles were established to result from variations in viewing angle, generated by the 16 day orbit procession of sun synchronous satellites maintained in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Multi-sensor investigations are also invaluable in the assessment of individual volcanic plumes. For these assessments additional data was obtained from the Multi-angle Imaging SprectroRadiometer (MISR) and Calipso. The profiling capabilities of MISR and Calipso provide additional information regarding the injection altitude and dispersion characteristics of volcanic plumes allowing the tracking of dispersion over time. Plumes identified within the MISR data record from volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula were compiled and represent the basis for multi-sensor assessments discussed here.
Posted or updated: Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Print-friendly page (new window) • Back to the Calendar