Volcano Monitoring from Space Using High-Cadence Planet CubeSat Images Applied to Fuego Volcano, Guatemala

Abstract

Fuego volcano (Guatemala) is one of the most active and hazardous volcanoes in the world. Its persistent activity generates lava flows, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), and lahars that threaten the surrounding areas and produce frequent morphological change. Fuego’s eruption deposits are often rapidly eroded or remobilized by heavy rains and its constant activity and inaccessible terrain makes ground-based assessment of recent eruptive deposits very challenging. Earth-orbiting satellites can provide unique observations of volcanoes during eruptive activity, when ground-based techniques may be too hazardous, and also during inter-eruptive phases, but have typically been hindered by relatively low spatial and temporal resolution. Here, we use a new source of Earth observation data for volcano monitoring: high resolution (~3 m pixel size) images acquired from a constellation of over 150 CubeSats (‘Doves’) operated by Planet Labs Inc. The Planet Labs constellation provides high spatial resolution at high cadence (<1–72 h), permitting space-based tracking of volcanic activity with unprecedented detail. We show how PlanetScope images collected before, during, and after an eruption can be applied for mapping ash clouds, PDCs, lava flows, or the analysis of morphological change. We assess the utility of the PlanetScope data as a tool for volcano monitoring and rapid deposit mapping that could assist volcanic hazard mitigation efforts in Guatemala and other active volcanic regions.

Reconstruction of the 2018 Anak Krakatau collapse using PlanetScope imaging and numerical modeling

“…Another important aspect of this work was the analysis of the evolution of Anak Krakatau in detail from 1/01/2016 to 02/28/2019 using all acquired PlanetScope images. This new remote sensing method, recently using also by other authors (Aldeghi et al, 2019), allowed to carefully analyze the morphological and structural changes of the whole volcanic edifice with particular attention for the months that preceded the sector collapse. This step of the project was performed to try to understand if there were any precursor processes of the instability of the southwest flank of the volcano in the months prior to the event and therefore if the collapse could be anticipated.…”

“…The company designs and manufactures Triple-CubeSat miniature satellites called Doves that are then delivered into orbit as secondary payloads on other rocket launch missions. Each Dove is roughly 10x10x30cm size, orbiting in two near-polar, Sun-synchronous (SS) orbits with ~8• and ~98• inclination at an altitude of ~475 km and is equipped with a high-powered telescope and a 6600 × 4400 pixel CCD array, which acquires both visible (red-greenblue or RGB) and near-infrared (NIR) PS data with 12-bit radiometric resolution (Aldeghi et al, 2019). Considering all Doves, they form the largest satellite constellation in the world (the CubeSat constellation), that provides a complete image of Earth once per day at 3-5 m optical resolution.…”

“…Considering all Doves, they form the largest satellite constellation in the world (the CubeSat constellation), that provides a complete image of Earth once per day at 3-5 m optical resolution. The images gathered by Doves are frame images with approximate dimensions of 25 -30 × 8 -10 km, and a native spatial resolution of 3.7 m, resampled to 3 m for delivery (Aldeghi et al, 2019). These and it allows also to decide what type of image you want to download (orthorectified multi-spectral 16-bit, orthorectified 3-band visual only 8-bit or not orthorectified multispectral 16-bit).…”

Rain Generated Lahars Prior to the 2018 Catastrophic Eruption of Fuego Volcano, Guatemala

“…This effect can be amplified also by the anomalous extreme rainfall events that trigger However, ground monitoring is not always effective because of geographical, seasonal or infrastructural restrictions, whereas satellites monitoring does not have the same limitations and can be used as a tool for improving early warning and forecasting of the activity of Fuego (Webley et al, 2008, Aldeghi et al, 2019. The use of remote sensing for mapping and monitoring natural hazards has diversified in recent years owing to an increase in data availability and technological advances in their interpretation (Joyce et al, 2009).…”

“…Each Dove carries a telescope and 6600×4400-pixe l CCD array, which acquires both visible (red-green-blue or RGB) and near-infrared (NIR) PS data with 12-bit radiometric resolution. T; the "Analytic" data products were chosen between the several PS data products with different processing levels available; which are 16-bit calibrated and orthorectified data with a positional accuracy of better than 10 m (Aldeghi et al, 2019).…”