Microwave remote sensing of the 2011 Plinian eruption of the Grímsvötn Icelandic volcano

Marzano, Frank S.; Lamantea, Mirko; Montopoli, Mario; Herzog, Michael; Graf, Hans F.; Cimini, Domenico

doi:10.1016/j.rse.2012.11.005

Cited by 37 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Similarly to that proposed in Marzano et al (2013a), Fig. 9 shows a quantitative comparison between SSMIS, DPX and SPC in terms of total columnar concentration (TCC) of C a .…”

Section: Retrieval Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The SS-MIS channel used for the comparison is that at 183 ± 6 GHz. To convert BT H [K] into TCC [kg m −2 ], an inverse linear relation is applied (Marzano et al, 2013a):…”

Section: Retrieval Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Grody and Basist, 1996;Marzano et al, 2013a). As a general rule, the smaller the sensor's wavelength is, the higher the horizontal spatial resolution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interpretation of observed microwave signatures from ground dual polarization radar and space multi-frequency radiometer for the 2011 Grímsvötn volcanic eruption

et al. 2014

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Abstract. The important role played by ground-based microwave weather radars for the monitoring of volcanic ash clouds has been recently demonstrated. The potential of microwaves from satellite passive and ground-based active sensors to estimate near-source volcanic ash cloud parameters has been also proposed, though with little investigation of their synergy and the role of the radar polarimetry. The goal of this work is to show the potentiality and drawbacks of the X-band dual polarization (DPX) radar measurements through the data acquired during the latest Grímsvötn volcanic eruptions that took place in May 2011 in Iceland. The analysis is enriched by the comparison between DPX data and the observations from the satellite Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) and a C-band single polarization (SPC) radar. SPC, DPX, and SSMIS instruments cover a large range of the microwave spectrum, operating respectively at 5.4, 3.2, and 0.16-1.6 cm wavelengths.The multi-source comparison is made in terms of total columnar concentration (TCC). The latter is estimated from radar observables using the "volcanic ash radar retrieval" algorithm for dual-polarization X-band and single polarization C-band systems (VARR-PX and VARR-SC, respectively) and from SSMIS brightness temperature (BT) using a linear BT-TCC relationship. The BT-TCC relationship has been compared with the analogous relation derived from SSMIS and SPC radar data for the same case study. Differences between these two linear regression curves are mainly attributed to an incomplete observation of the vertical extension of the ash cloud, a coarser spatial resolution and a more pronounced non-uniform beam-filling effect of SPC measurements (260 km away from the volcanic vent) with respect to the DPX (70 km from the volcanic vent). Results show that high-spatial-resolution DPX radar data identify an evident volcanic plume signature, even though the interpretation of the polarimetric variables and the related retrievals is not always straightforward, likely due to the possible formation of ash and ice particle aggregates and the radar signal impairments like depolarization or non-uniform beam filling that might be caused by turbulence effects. The correlation of the estimated TCCs derived from DPX or SPC and SSMIS BTs reaches approximately −0.7.

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“…Similarly to that proposed in Marzano et al (2013a), Fig. 9 shows a quantitative comparison between SSMIS, DPX and SPC in terms of total columnar concentration (TCC) of C a .…”

Section: Retrieval Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The SS-MIS channel used for the comparison is that at 183 ± 6 GHz. To convert BT H [K] into TCC [kg m −2 ], an inverse linear relation is applied (Marzano et al, 2013a):…”

Section: Retrieval Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interpretation of observed microwave signatures from ground dual polarization radar and space multi-frequency radiometer for the 2011 Grímsvötn volcanic eruption

et al. 2014

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“…For this reason they are also able to detect tephra particles in low visibility conditions where infrared and optical tools usually fail [ Sauvageot , ]. Dual‐polarization Doppler microwave radars have been extensively used together with electromagnetic models to provide quantitative estimates of tephra loading and tephra particle characterization [ Marzano et al ., , , , , ]. Although weather Doppler radars have been used for several decades, Doppler information extracted from them has never been used for volcanic studies, and so far, it has not been included in the retrieval schemes of tephra microphysical parameters proposed by Marzano.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Velocity profiles inside volcanic clouds from three‐dimensional scanning microwave dual‐polarization Doppler radars

Montopoli

2016

JGR Atmospheres

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In this work, velocity profiles within a volcanic tephra cloud obtained by dual‐polarization Doppler radar acquisitions with three‐dimensional (3‐D) mechanical scanning capability are analyzed. A method for segmenting the radar volumes into three velocity regimes: vertical updraft, vertical fallout, and horizontal wind advection within a volcanic tephra cloud using dual‐polarization Doppler radar moments is proposed. The horizontal and vertical velocity components within the regimes are retrieved using a novel procedure that makes assumptions concerning the characteristics of the winds inside these regimes. The vertical velocities retrieved are combined with 1‐D simulations to derive additional parameters including particle fallout, mass flux, and particle sizes. The explosive event occurred on 23 November 2013 at the Mount Etna volcano (Sicily, Italy), is considered a demonstrative case in which to analyze the radar Doppler signal inside the tephra column. The X‐band radar (3 cm wavelength) in the Catania, Italy, airport observed the 3‐D scenes of the Etna tephra cloud ~32 km from the volcano vent every 10 min. From the radar‐derived vertical velocity profiles of updraft, particle fallout, and horizontal transportation, an exit velocity of 150 m/s, mass flux rate of 1.37 • 107 kg/s, particle fallout velocity of 18 m/s, and diameters of precipitating tephra particles equal to 0.8 cm are estimated on average. These numbers are shown to be consistent with theoretical 1‐D simulations of plume dynamics and local reports at the ground, respectively. A thickness of 3 ± 0.36 km for the downwind ash cloud is also inferred by differentiating the radar‐derived cloud top and the height of transition between the convective and buoyancy regions, the latter being inferred by the estimated vertical updraft velocity profile. The unique nature of the case study as well as the novelty of the segmentation and retrieval methods presented potentially give new insights into the analysis of volcanic cloud dynamics.

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“…In 2011, Grímsvötn (at least VEI 4) produced more European tephra fallout in the first 24 h than occurred during the entire 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, with the bulk volume of tephra 2-3 times greater (Gudmundsson et al 2012). However, the short duration of the eruption and the absence of strong upper atmospheric winds prevented the dispersal of tephra at the scale observed in 2010 (Marzano et al 2013); thus, the larger eruption had a lesser effect on global society.…”

Section: Costs Of Natural Hazardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem approach for natural hazard mitigation of volcanic tephra in Iceland: building resilience and sustainability

Ágústsdóttir¹

2015

Nat Hazards

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Living in Iceland, a highly volcanically active island with a historical eruption frequency of 20-25 events per 100 years, involves risks from lava, pyroclastic flows, tephra-fall, and floods from glacier/snow-covered volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions can have detrimental effects on human health, societies, and ecosystems. Eruptions in 2010-2011 proved the value of pre-event planning for some natural hazards. An additional focus is needed on pre-disaster mitigation responses for the effects of tephra-fall on vegetation: As outlined under the UNISDR Hyogo/Sendai Framework for Action, healthy ecosystems and environmental management are key actions in disaster risk reduction (DRR). Iceland's most serious environmental problem is the degraded state of common rangeland in the highlands, where tephra-fall has been catastrophic. Tephra (airborne volcanic material) affects hydrology, air quality, and ecosystems by direct burial or post-eruptive transport, extending its influence far beyond the initial eruption area. Resilience to tephra-related disturbances depends on an ecosystem's overall health. Tall, vigorous vegetation has greater endurance; its initial survival is more likely, while sheltering minimizes secondary transport and hastens recovery. Areas that are sparsely vegetated and already stressed are more vulnerable; there, tephra remains unstable and can cause further damage. Reclaiming vulnerable land and building healthy ecosystems, as represented by the Hekluskógar project, improve the ability of these areas to endure tephra-fall, increasing their resilience and reducing the associated costs to society. Successful DRR for tephra-fall, through the revegetation of degraded land, will require effective governance, multi-sector coordination, and the alignment of policies on land use, agriculture, natural resource management, and climate change mitigation.

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Microwave remote sensing of the 2011 Plinian eruption of the Grímsvötn Icelandic volcano

Cited by 37 publications

References 36 publications

Interpretation of observed microwave signatures from ground dual polarization radar and space multi-frequency radiometer for the 2011 Grímsvötn volcanic eruption

Interpretation of observed microwave signatures from ground dual polarization radar and space multi-frequency radiometer for the 2011 Grímsvötn volcanic eruption

Velocity profiles inside volcanic clouds from three‐dimensional scanning microwave dual‐polarization Doppler radars

Ecosystem approach for natural hazard mitigation of volcanic tephra in Iceland: building resilience and sustainability

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