Research

Baseline products will be used in specific case studies related to SO2 emissions at Mt. Etna and Kilauea, thermal emissions at Kilauea, Mt. Etna, and North Pacific Rim Volcanoes for validation of low resolution temporally frequent data, prototype evaluation of proximal (boundary layer) volcanic ash aviation hazards at Anchorage, AK and Catania/Signonella USNAS (Sicily), Italy, and lava flow hazards in Hawaii and Italy.

Data Products

For each volcano, the data system will be used to create baseline data sets of volcanic activity, including:

1. Average baseline thermal emission and variance.
2. Average airborne SO2 column abundance and variance (pre-,syn-, and post-eruption).
3. Average airborne ash abundance and variance (composition and mass loading—pre-,syn-, and post-eruption).
4. Seasonal Ash Encounter Probabilities with respect to local airfield climbout, approach, and transiting air routes.
5. Location and thermal state of recent structures and deposits (e.g., lava flows, lahars, pyroclastic flows, geothermal hotspots).

Research Using the ASTER Volcano Archive

Several specific case studies will be undertaken as part of this activity utilizing AVA baseline products.

1. SO2 emissions at Mt. Etna and Kilauea
2. Thermal emissions and ash emissions at Mt. Etna
3. Thermal emissions and surface changes (e.g., dome vesicularity; topography, new lava flows) for North Pacific Rim Volcanoes.
4. Evaluation of proximal (boundary layer) volcanic ash aviation hazards at Anchorage, AK and Catania/Sigonella USNAS (Sicily), Italy.
5. Lava flow hazards in Hawaii and Italy: variable emissivity of molten lava.