It is shown that Landsat TM and MSS data provide useful and sometimes unique information on magmatic and fumarolic events at poorly monitored active volcanoes. The digital number data recorded in each spectral band by TM and MSS can be converted into spectral radiance, measured in W/sq m per micron per sr, using calibration data such as those provided by Markham and Barker (1986) and can provide temperature information on the lava fountain, lava lakes, pahoehoe flows, blocky lava, pyroclastic flow, and fumarole. The examples of Landsat data documenting otherwise unobserved precursors and/or activity include the September 1986 eruption of Lascar volcano, Chile; the continued presence of lava lakes at Erta 'Ale, Ethiopia (in the absence of any ground-based observations); and minor eruptions at Mount Erebus, Antarctica.

Volcano monitoring using short wavelength infrared data from satellites

Volcano surveillance using infrared cameras

https://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/~dstevens/publications/harris_jvgr97.pdf

Thermal observations of degassing open conduits and fumaroles at Stromboli and Vulcano using remotely sensed data

A substantial body of research has been directed towards the development of remote sensing techniques for volcanology, including applications relevant to eruption hazard assessment. Several of these studies exploit multi-spectral and high (100 m) spatial resolution spaceborne imagery; others focus on the application of lower spatial resolution (but high temporal resolution) meteorological satellite data. Although the latter have much to offer hazards research on account of their low cost, frequent acquisition, and operational availability, there has been comparatively little exploitation of the datastream by the volcano monitoring community. As the UN International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction reaches its maturity, it is appropriate to review the state of play concerning volcanological remote sensing, and to stimulate the much wider use of technological developments. This contribution critically examines the utility of a variety of remotely sensed data notably acquired from the NOAA-series and ge...

A. Bonneville

Papers

Satellite thermal infrared observations of Mt. Etna after the 17th March 1981 eruption