Near-real-time detection of tephra eruption onset and mass flow rate using microwave weather radar and infrasonic arrays

During an eruptive event, the near-real-time monitoring of volcanic explosion onset and its mass flow rate (MFR) is a key factor to predict ash plume dispersion and to mitigate risk to air traffic. Microwave (MW) weather radars have proved to be a fundamental instrument to derive eruptive source par...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Main Authors: MARZANO, FRANK SILVIO, PICCIOTTI, ERRICO, Di Fabio, Saverio, MONTOPOLI, MARIO, MEREU, LUIGI, Degruyter, Wim, Bonadonna, Costanza, Ripepe, Maurizio
Other Authors: Marzano, FRANK SILVIO, Picciotti, Errico, Montopoli, Mario, Mereu, Luigi
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 2016
Subjects:
detection algorithm
microwave (MW) remote sensing
volcanic ash
weather radar
electrical and electronic engineering
earth and planetary sciences (all)
Eyjafjallajökull
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11573/961378
https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2016.2578282
Description
Summary:During an eruptive event, the near-real-time monitoring of volcanic explosion onset and its mass flow rate (MFR) is a key factor to predict ash plume dispersion and to mitigate risk to air traffic. Microwave (MW) weather radars have proved to be a fundamental instrument to derive eruptive source parameters. We extend this capability to include an early-warning detection scheme within the overall volcanic ash radar retrieval methodology. This scheme, called the volcanic ash detection (VAD) algorithm, is based on a hybrid technique using both fuzzy logic and conditional probability. Examples of VAD applications are shown for some case studies, including the Icelandic Grímsvötn eruption in 2011, the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010, and the Italian Mt. Etna volcano eruption in 2013. Estimates of the eruption onset from the radar-based VAD module are compared with infrasonic array data. One-dimensional numerical simulations and analytical model estimates of MFR are also discussed and intercompared with sensor-based retrievals. Results confirm in all cases the potential ofMWweather radar for ash plumemonitoring in near real time and its complementarity with infrasonic array for early-warning system design.

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