The Alaska Volcano Observatory Remote Sensing group has a plethora of tools for operational monitoring the volcanoes across the North Pacific. Here, access is provided to the Image Browser (for viewing sector-by-sector imagery), Hotspot browser (for viewing 40 by 40 region centred on volcano of interest), Data Center (access to real-time update of data acquired, thermal and ash alarms) and query tools for examining the data archive of over 10 years of satellite data and up to 5 years of manual observations.
The Puff volcanic ash dispersion and transport model was first developed for the 1989 Redoudt eruption. Since then, it has been developed solely for the tracking of ash clouds. It is used worldwide by agencies such as AVO, AFWA and VAAC. The model is used for near-real-time simulations for potential eruptions, ongoing volcanic eruptions and past event analysis. Through the website, these model simulations can be viewed as well as access the online model interface for your own simulations. New developments have included the visualization in Virtual Globes in both 2D and 3D time-dependent form.
GEOS 606 - Physical Volcanology, 3 credit course. Instructor: Dr Jon Dehn.
Volcanic Processes shall be discussed in depth, relating the physics behind the processes to the outcrops in the field. In addition to homework and examinations, the student will be required to solve a unique physical problem and present the results to the class during the "micro-meeting" at the end of the semester.
GEOS 676 - Remote Sensing of Volcanic Eruptions, 3 credit course. Instructor: Dr Peter Webley.
Volcanoes are a fascinating subject to scientists as well as the general public. This course focuses on the use of satellite images of volcanic eruptions to monitor and mitigate volcanic hazards, and to understand eruption processes.The data used will include that from the GI's own receiving stations (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer, AVHRR, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, MODIS, Synthetic Aperture RADAR, SAR) as well as other available data such as, Geostationary Earth Observing Satellite (GOES) Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper, Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), and spaceborne photography from the shuttle and international space station.
Here, access is provided to a list of publications available from the members of the Alaska Volcano Observatory remote sensing group.
Here, access is provided to the development within the remote sensing group on the use of Virtual Globes and KML language for displaying geophysical datasets. Links include Volcano KML, Lunch on Earth, Virtual Globes Conferences and AGU sessions where Virtual Globes have been prominent.