Real-time volcanic cloud detection from INETER’s AVHRR station

Peter Webley KCL

AVHRR Real time Volcano Monitoring Project AVHRR Real time Volcano Monitoring Project

ObjectivesObjectives Improve geological and geotechnical hazard avoidance capacity Improve capacity for low cost, rapid hazard, risk and vulnerability assessment Development systems for maintaining and improving national geoscience

information Assess the capability of remote sensing for enhancing operational volcano

monitoring Incorporates both geophysical and social science components

AVHRR Real time Volcano Monitoring Project AVHRR Real time Volcano Monitoring Project Accomplishments

Installation of the AVHRR receiving station Provided the software to allow the INETER staff to capture the data in real time Designed and installed automated capture and analysis system Carried out extensive case studies into the application of AVHRR to monitor and detect

thermal volcanic activity Designed analysis system to monitor volcanoes in Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador

and Costa Rica Development of web based interface for data download and thermal monitoring Multi-National Workshop in Nicaragua during March 2004

Developments Thermal fingerprint to detect eruption E-mail alert system Assessment of operational use of system Ash cloud monitoring system

AVHRR Receiving StationAVHRR Receiving Station

Swath area : 2000 km * 2000km

6 - 8 satellite passes per day

Data 5 Spectral Channels Measuring Reflectance and Temperature At 1.1 km resolution at nadir

Analysis Use T4 – T5 for ash cloud test Provide time series of important data

Band Wavelength (μm)

Resolution (km)

1 0.6 1.1

2 0.8 1.1

3a 1.7 1.1

3b 3.6 1.1

4 10.8 1.1

5 11.5 1.1

Fuego Volcano

3763 m elevation (12,346 feet)

Latitude: 14.473°N (14°28'22"N)

Longitude: 90.880°W (90°52'49"W)

One of Central America’s most active volcanoes

January 8th – 9th 2004 eruption

Use of Remote Sensing data at Fuego Initiated on the 8th, CONRED’s Early Warning Alert System passed from Yellow (Fuego’s perpetual

state since May 1999 reactivation of activity) to Red in the moment of the eruption.

The local observers were prepared to make evaluations and proceed to safety—without the benefit of an early warning emitted by CONRED. It was the observers that notified CONRED of the dangerous situation—not the reverse.

Both the local observers and CONRED staff agree usefulness “If the eruption had occurred on a cloudy night, the villagers may not have been able to observe the lava flow and

its direction, leaving them without sufficient time to evacuate. In that case, an early warming from CONRED could be critical”

CONRED scientists express desire to work on establishing an activity baseline for Fuego based on observations, seismic record and AVHRR data. “Could provide a larger window of opportunity for prediction” “May help alleviate the cloud cover problem experienced both by the observers and the analysts of AVHRR data” “Re-examination of the AVHRR data for the previous eruptions with recent periods of heightened activity that did

not result in eruption may be of benefit”

Overview of PracticalOverview of Practical Fuego eruption in January 2004Fuego eruption in January 2004 Use of ENVIUse of ENVI TT44 – T – T55 < 0 method < 0 method

Ash detection and cloud size and length measurementsAsh detection and cloud size and length measurements Georeferenced image generationGeoreferenced image generation