88th Annual Meeting (20-24 January 2008)

Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Automated volcanic ash dispersion forecasts
Exhibit Hall B (Ernest N. Morial Convention Center)
Ming Liu, NRL, Monterey, CA; and D. L. Westphal, J. S. Reid, T. L. Tsui, J. Cook, D. A. Geiszler, and M. Frost
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Monterey, CA is adapting its operational global and mesoscale numerical weather and aerosol prediction capability to help the FAA solve the problems of volcanic ash plume transport. NRL is developing volcanic ash plume predictions by modifying the aerosol prediction source function to accept the volcanic eruption parameters distributed in advisory statements. This new modeling capability will provide FAA with the operational means for continuously monitoring the volcanic ash plume in 24/7 mode and forecasting the transport for the next several days. New remote sensing techniques are being developed to detect and monitor volcanic eruptions. These will provide enhancements to the source specification, particularly the timing and altitude. The modeled volcanic ash plume hazard predictions will be incorporated in Dynamic Ocean Track System (DOTS) Plus and Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) for enhanced air traffic planning. Results from the initial volcanic ash plume transport simulations for the North Pacific region will be presented.

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