Utilizing AIRS Near Real-Time Data for Volcanic Plume Detection Rapid Response
Abstract
Volcanic eruptions can release large volumes of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas and pulverized rock known as volcanic ash. SO2 and dust browse products derived from AIRS observations can indicate the possibility of volcanic activity and help track the movement of the plume. AIRS SO2 data are currently utilized in volcanic plume decision support at both the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Washington D.C. and at the EU's Support to Aviation Control Services (SACS), which in turn supports the Volcano Ash Advisory Center in Toulouse, France. An automated alert system for SO2 detection developed at JPL provides automated alerts, imagery, and an event archive. The system scans incoming AIRS Level 1B near real-time data granules using an algorithm that sections the granule and counts the number of SO2 "hits" within sections. Upon detection of an exceedance, the system generates a suite of images that includes SO2 brightness temperature, dust score, total cloud fraction, cloud top height, IR brightness temperature and a visible image (daytime only). Available in formats suitable for Google Earth and GIS systems, the AIRS browse images are displayed on a dynamically generated web page containing contextual information, a custom link to NASA Worldview pre-loaded with helpful Worldview layers, links to additional resources, and access to an archive of previous detections. With challenges that include tuning the system to reduce false positives and creating image products that visually communicate successfully, the system is designed to create an informative and accurate volcanic plume detection system that can be an additional resource to decision makers concerned with tracking volcanic plumes. The talk will include a demonstration of the AIRS volcano rapid response web page, event archive, and alert subscription service. A high level overview of the detection algorithm will also be provided.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AGUFMIN038..05R
- Keywords:
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- 3360 Remote sensing;
- ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES;
- 1964 Real-time and responsive information delivery;
- INFORMATICS;
- 4315 Monitoring;
- forecasting;
- prediction;
- NATURAL HAZARDS;
- 7924 Forecasting;
- SPACE WEATHER