Use of MODIS images to study eruptive clouds from Volcán de Fuego de Colima (México) and applications on volcano monitoring

Abstract

Volcano monitoring using satellite images may provide periodic information on gas emission fluctuations such as SO₂ emissions related to the processes occurring inside volcanoes. This study analyses a period of 36 days (May 10 to June 15, 2005) of processing 113 MODIS images for the detection of SO₂. Within this period it was also possible to detect and quantify 8 of 15 explosive events reported by the Washington VAAC. With the satellite images as tools for monitoring the volcanic emissions, it was possible to determine three cases related to volcanic ashes: 1) follow up of volcanic ash and gases transported by wind, 2) calculation of ash–cloud residence time in the atmosphere, 3) effects of shearing winds during the ascent of an ash plume.
Regarding the continuous monitoring of passive emissions of SO₂, there is a relationship among explosive events and increasing peaks of SO₂ emission suggesting a difference of approximately 2 days between the two events that may anticipate the type of behavior of the volcano.