HR: 0830h
AN: V51F-0335    [PDF]
TI: Volcanic Ash Image Products from MODIS for Aviation Safety and Natural Hazard Mitigation
AU: Stephens, G
EM: george.stephens@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/NESDIS, Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, 5200 Auth Rd. rm 510, Camp Springs, MD 20746 United States
AU: * Ellrod, G P
EM: gary.ellrod@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/NESDIS, Office of Research and Applications, 5200 Auth Rd. rm 701, Camp Springs, MD 20746 United States
AU: Im, J
EM: yung-sun.im@noaa.gov
AF: IM Systems Group, 5200 Auth Rd. rm 510, Camp Springs, MD 20746 United States
AB: Multi-spectral volcanic ash image products have been developed using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data from the NASA Terra spacecraft (Ellrod and Im 2003). Efforts are now underway to integrate these new products into the MODIS Data Retrieval System at NESDIS, for use in the operational Hazard Mapping System (HMS). The images will be used at the Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (W-VAAC) in the issuance of volcanic ash advisory statements to aircraft. In addition, the images will be made available to users in the global volcano and emergency management community via the World Wide Web. During the development process, good results (high detection rate with low ­false alarms­") were obtained from a tri-spectral combination of MODIS Infrared (IR) bands centered near 8.6, 11.0 and 12.0 ŸYm (Bands 29, 31, and 32). Optimum Red-Green-Blue false color composite images were developed to provide information on ash cloud location, as well as cloud phase and surface characteristics, to aid in interpretation both day and night. Information on volcanic ash derived from the tri-spectral product was displayed using the red color gun. This information was combined with visible (0.6 ŸYm) and near-IR (1.6 ŸYm) data for green and blue, respectively, during daylight periods. At night, the 8.6 ­V 11.0 ŸYm combination and 11.0 ŸYm band were used for the green and blue colors in the RGB product. Currently, raw MODIS data in five minute ­granules­" are processed for the following regions: (1) southern Alaska, (2) Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and (3) northern Andes region of South America. Image products are converted to Geo-spatial Information System (GIS) compatible formats for use in the HMS, and to Man-Computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS) ­Area File­" format for use in currently configured W-VAAC display systems. The installation of a high speed, fiber optic line from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to the World Weather Building, Camp Springs, Maryland (scheduled for completion by Fall, 2003) will allow a full set of data to be processed from both Terra and Aqua spacecraft.
DE: 8409 Atmospheric effects (0370)
DE: 8419 Eruption monitoring (7280)
DE: 8494 Instruments and techniques
SC: Volcanology, Geochemistry, Petrology [V]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting