Volcanic Ash Monitoring with Infrasound

Ash from volcano eruptions can create significant hazards for aircraft. In order to mitigate this threat, pilots need ample warning of ash injection into the atmosphere. Although some volcanoes are monitored very closely, eruptions from volcanoes in remote areas or those often obscured by weather are difficult to monitor and often lie near major flight routes. Infrasonic arrays at regional distances may be able to help overcome these monitoring impediments.

Volcano Ash Cloud. Photo by Andres Gonzales. Used by permission.

ISLA is part of a project-Acoustic Surveillance for Hazardous Eruptions (ASHE)-to monitor volcanic eruptions and test the feasibility of an acoustic eruption detection system. Currently data is being received from two arrays deployed in Ecuador , where multiple active volcanoes are present in remote areas and significant cloud cover makes ash observations difficult. Early results look promising.