The Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Marine Meteorology Division (NRL-MRY) is assembling a unique suite of near real-time digital satellite data and products geared towards monitoring volcanic ash plumes that create hazardous aviation conditions. Ash plume detection, areal extent, plume top height and ceiling will be extracted via automated algorithms from a combination of geostationary (GEO) and low earth orbiting (LEO) data sets that takes advantage of their complimentary strengths.

Initially, GOES-West and MTSAT data will be incorporated to view volcanic plumes within the north Pacific region. Although GEO spectral channels are not optimized for ash detection, temporal changes over limited timeframes can assist in plume extraction.

LEO sensors provide a wealth of spectral channels unmatched on GEO platforms and permit enhanced ash plume monitoring. The NRL Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and SeaWiFS dust enhancement techniques have been applied to a limited ash plume data set with positive results. Advanced Very High Radiometer (AVHRR) from METOP-A has the potential to provide global 1-km data versus the earlier NOAA GAC data sets and the DSMP Operational Linescan System (OLS) has night time visible data that could be exploited for some ash plume events. Active radar/lidar sensors (NASA's CALIPSO and CloudSat) can provide unique ash plume products with high vertical resolution and provide much needed validation/confirmation, but suffer from inherently poor temporal sampling, unless the volcanic source is at sufficiently high latitudes (often the case).

The MODIS dust enhancement algorithm is now online for twenty one (21) volcano sites world-wide via our NexSat web site: http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/NEXSAT.html (click on “region/sector” and select volcanoes on the bottom). Shortly, additional GEO/LEO data sets will be added and multiple ash plume detection techniques (published and under development) will be incorporated for comparison and evaluation. The satellite-derived volcanic ash plumes will be incorporated into the FAA's Dynamic Ocean Track System (DOTS) Plus and Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) for enhanced air traffic planning.