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Volcanic Ash /aerosol and Dust: Dr. Bernadette Connell Cira/Csu/Rammt December 2003
Volcanic Ash /aerosol and Dust: Dr. Bernadette Connell Cira/Csu/Rammt December 2003
Introduction
1) Detection of Volcanic Ash for aviation
hazards - background
2) Techniques for ash/aerosol, and dust
detection
Multi-channel image combinations are used to
distinguish reflective/emissive/transmissive
properties of each constituent. In order to
identify the ash/aerosol, and dust, we need to
know how water and ice cloud particles
appear in the same image combinations.
3) Examples
4) Limitations
5) Selected References
Volcanic Ash
Ash clouds are not an everyday issue and
they do not provide frequent hazard. But if
encountered, volcanic ash can spoil your
entire day.
(Engen, 1994)
Why?
Between 1975 and 1994, more than 80 jet
airplanes were damaged due to unplanned
encounters with drifting clouds of volcanic ash.
Seven of these encounters caused in-flight loss
of jet engine power, .. Putting at severe risk
more than 1,500 passengers.
The repair and replacement costs associated
with with airplane-ash cloud encounters are
high and have exceeded $200 million.
(Casadevall, 1994)
More background
The primary cause of in-flight engine loss
was the accumulation of melted and
resolidified ash on interior engine vents
which reduced the effective flow of air
through the engine, causing it to stall.
Volcanic ash is abrasive, mildly corrosive,
and conductive. Airframes and engine
components can be destroyed. Windshields
are especially vulnerable to abrasion and
crazing.
Three possible modes of behavior of eruption columns - intensity of eruption increases from
left to right. Wind is from the left in each case. At side of each diagram are shown
normalized velocity (v) profiles versus height (h) for these columns. Left, weak isolated
thermals, which are influenced by the wind. Center, a higher intensity buoyant column,
influenced by wind only at the top. Right, a high intensity, superbuoyant column with a
pronounced umbrella region.
From Self and Walker, 1994
Schematic diagram
showing the
distribution of
hazards to aircraft
around explosive
eruption columns of
three selected
frequencies. Upper
diagram is sectional
view; lower diagram
is plan view.
Vertical and
horizontal scales are
equal.
Self and Walker, 1994
ash cloud
Lascar, Chile July 20, 2000 1639 UTC GOES-8 Infrared (10.7 um)
ash cloud
ash cloud
positive differences
negative differences
positive differences
IR4
TD5-4
Dust
Detection of dust is similar to ash.
Emissivity of many soil particles at 10.7 um
is less than that at 12.0 um:
T(12.0um) T(10.7um) > 0.0
Blowing dust
Blowing dust
Volcanic ash
Lascar, Chile
Blowing dust
Reflectivity Product
18 N
At night
Montserrat >
cirrus
low cloud
15 N
66 W
63 W
convective cloud
18 N
T(3.9um)-T(10.7um)
Montserrat >
cirrus
low cloud
15 N
66 W
63 W
convective cloud
3.9/10.7/12.0 Product
Experimental Volcanic Ash Product (Ellrod et al.
2001)
B=C + m [T(12.0)-T(10.7)]+[T(3.9)-T(10.7)]
B= output brightness value
C=constant=60
(determined empirically)
M=scaling factor=10
(determined empirically)
T= brightness temperature at (wavelength)
Volcanic ash
18 N
Montserrat >
cirrus
low cloud
15 N
66 W
63 W
convective cloud
Challenge of GOES-12:
12.0 um replaced by 13.3 um
Volcanic gases/aerosols
Gases: water vapor, sulfur dioxide (SO2),
chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen
oxides and more.
One of many processes: oxidation and hydration
of SO2 -> H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)
The resulting ash/acid mix is highly corrosive
and can cause damage to jet engines and
external parts of the aircraft.
Absorption by SO2
SO2 detection
Greater SO2 absorption at 7.3 um
BT 7.3 um BT 6.7 um < 0
Less SO2 absorption at 8.5 um
Ash absorption at 8.5 um
BT 8.5 um BT 12.0 um < 0
SO2 detection
300
280
260
240
220
Volcano Reventador: 4 November 2002
Volcano Etna: 22 October 2002
Volcano Etna: 22 October 2002
200
3.5
4.5
4.0
5.5
5.0
6.5
6.0
7.5
7.0
8.5
8.0
9.5
10.5 11.5 12.5 13.5 14.5 15.5
9.0
10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0
Wavelength (micrometers)
22 km
Guagua Pichincha, Ecuador
16 km
Selected References
Prata, A. J. 1989: Observations of volcanic ash clouds in the 10-12 um window using
AVHRR/2 data. Int. J. Remote Sensing, 10 (4 and 5), 751-761.
Engen; Cassadevall; Simkin; Self and Walker; Prata and Barton, Schneider and Rose,
and other articles can be found in: Casadevall, T. J., 1994: Volcanic Ash and
Aviation Safety: Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Volcanic
Ash and Aviation Safety. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2047.
Ellrod, G. P., B. H. Connell, and D. W. Hillger, 2001: Improved detection of airborne
volcanic ash using multispectral infrared satellite data. J. Geophys. Res., 108
(D12), 6-1 to 6-13
Satellite Services Division Washington Volcano Ash Advisory Center
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/VAAC/washington.html