Detecting volcanic ash and blowing dust using GOES, MODIS, and AIRS imagery

The brightness temperature difference between the 11.0 and 12.0 micrometer imagery has been used with much success to identify volcanic ash plumes and blowing dust. Other image products using the short wave infrared imagery around 3.9 micrometers and the longer waver imagery at 8.5 micrometers have experienced limited success in identifying the ash and dust plumes. The main drawbacks to the techniques tend to occur in very humid environments, when the ash or dust is low in concentration or when the ash/dust is mixed with meteorological cloud. Examples will be presented here of the current products available with GOES and MODIS imagery which highlight different environmental conditions. The products derived with GOES and MODIS imagery will be compared with the spectral curves available from AIRS imagery. The combination of increased spatial and spectral resolution suggest potential improvements in detection of ash and dust with future satellite measurements.