Inside Volcanic Clouds: Remote Sensing of Ash Plumes Using Microwave Weather Radars
Microphysical and dynamical features of volcanic tephra due to Plinian and sub-Plinian eruptions can be quantitatively monitored by using ground-based microwave weather radars. The methodological rationale and unique potential of this remote-sensing technique are illustrated and discussed. Volume da...
Published in: | Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2013
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.openaccessrepository.it/record/106895 https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-11-00160.1 |
id |
ftopenaccessrep:oai:zenodo.org:106895 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftopenaccessrep:oai:zenodo.org:106895 2023-10-25T01:39:51+02:00 Inside Volcanic Clouds: Remote Sensing of Ash Plumes Using Microwave Weather Radars Errico Picciotti Frank S. Marzano Gianfranco Vulpiani Mario Montopoli 2013-10-01 https://www.openaccessrepository.it/record/106895 https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-11-00160.1 eng eng url:https://www.openaccessrepository.it/communities/itmirror https://www.openaccessrepository.it/record/106895 doi:10.1175/bams-d-11-00160.1 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Rural Digital Europe NEANIAS Atmospheric Research Community Atmospheric Science info:eu-repo/semantics/article publication-article 2013 ftopenaccessrep https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-11-00160.1 2023-09-26T22:18:46Z Microphysical and dynamical features of volcanic tephra due to Plinian and sub-Plinian eruptions can be quantitatively monitored by using ground-based microwave weather radars. The methodological rationale and unique potential of this remote-sensing technique are illustrated and discussed. Volume data, acquired by ground-based weather radars, are processed to automatically classify and estimate ash particle concentration and fallout. The physical– statistical retrieval algorithm is based on a backscattering microphysical model of fine, coarse, and lapilli ash particles, used within a Bayesian classification and optimal estimation methodology. The experimental evidence of the usefulness and limitations of radar acquisitions for volcanic ash monitoring is supported by describing several case studies of volcanic eruptions all over the world. The radar sensitivity due to the distance and the system noise, as well as the various radar bands and configurations (i.e., Doppler and dual polarized), are taken into account. The discussed examples of radar-derived ash concentrations refer to the case studies of the Augustine volcano eruption in 2002, observed in Alaska by an S-band radar; the Grímsvötn volcano eruptions in 2004 and 2011, observed in Iceland by C- and X-band weather radars and compared with in situ samples; and the Mount Etna volcano eruption in 2011, observed by an X-band polarimetric radar. These applications demonstrate the variety of radar-based products that can be derived and exploited for the study of explosive volcanism. Article in Journal/Newspaper Iceland Alaska Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN): Open Access Repository Etna ENVELOPE(-19.191,-19.191,63.706,63.706) Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 94 10 1567 1586 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN): Open Access Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftopenaccessrep |
language |
English |
topic |
Rural Digital Europe NEANIAS Atmospheric Research Community Atmospheric Science |
spellingShingle |
Rural Digital Europe NEANIAS Atmospheric Research Community Atmospheric Science Errico Picciotti Frank S. Marzano Gianfranco Vulpiani Mario Montopoli Inside Volcanic Clouds: Remote Sensing of Ash Plumes Using Microwave Weather Radars |
topic_facet |
Rural Digital Europe NEANIAS Atmospheric Research Community Atmospheric Science |
description |
Microphysical and dynamical features of volcanic tephra due to Plinian and sub-Plinian eruptions can be quantitatively monitored by using ground-based microwave weather radars. The methodological rationale and unique potential of this remote-sensing technique are illustrated and discussed. Volume data, acquired by ground-based weather radars, are processed to automatically classify and estimate ash particle concentration and fallout. The physical– statistical retrieval algorithm is based on a backscattering microphysical model of fine, coarse, and lapilli ash particles, used within a Bayesian classification and optimal estimation methodology. The experimental evidence of the usefulness and limitations of radar acquisitions for volcanic ash monitoring is supported by describing several case studies of volcanic eruptions all over the world. The radar sensitivity due to the distance and the system noise, as well as the various radar bands and configurations (i.e., Doppler and dual polarized), are taken into account. The discussed examples of radar-derived ash concentrations refer to the case studies of the Augustine volcano eruption in 2002, observed in Alaska by an S-band radar; the Grímsvötn volcano eruptions in 2004 and 2011, observed in Iceland by C- and X-band weather radars and compared with in situ samples; and the Mount Etna volcano eruption in 2011, observed by an X-band polarimetric radar. These applications demonstrate the variety of radar-based products that can be derived and exploited for the study of explosive volcanism. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Errico Picciotti Frank S. Marzano Gianfranco Vulpiani Mario Montopoli |
author_facet |
Errico Picciotti Frank S. Marzano Gianfranco Vulpiani Mario Montopoli |
author_sort |
Errico Picciotti |
title |
Inside Volcanic Clouds: Remote Sensing of Ash Plumes Using Microwave Weather Radars |
title_short |
Inside Volcanic Clouds: Remote Sensing of Ash Plumes Using Microwave Weather Radars |
title_full |
Inside Volcanic Clouds: Remote Sensing of Ash Plumes Using Microwave Weather Radars |
title_fullStr |
Inside Volcanic Clouds: Remote Sensing of Ash Plumes Using Microwave Weather Radars |
title_full_unstemmed |
Inside Volcanic Clouds: Remote Sensing of Ash Plumes Using Microwave Weather Radars |
title_sort |
inside volcanic clouds: remote sensing of ash plumes using microwave weather radars |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://www.openaccessrepository.it/record/106895 https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-11-00160.1 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-19.191,-19.191,63.706,63.706) |
geographic |
Etna |
geographic_facet |
Etna |
genre |
Iceland Alaska |
genre_facet |
Iceland Alaska |
op_relation |
url:https://www.openaccessrepository.it/communities/itmirror https://www.openaccessrepository.it/record/106895 doi:10.1175/bams-d-11-00160.1 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-11-00160.1 |
container_title |
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society |
container_volume |
94 |
container_issue |
10 |
container_start_page |
1567 |
op_container_end_page |
1586 |
_version_ |
1780735412934803456 |