Satellite-Based Detection of Volcanic Plumes: Sinergy Between Thermal Infrared and Millimeter Wave Radiometric Data During the 2014 Kelud Event

Satellite-based detection of volcanic eruptions, using infrared radiometric data from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) spectroradiometers, may lead to an ambiguous detection in the proximity of the volcanic vent during sub-Plinian volcanic events. The thermal-infrared (TIR) brightness-temperature difference signatures saturate because of the large tephra particle within the expanding plume. In this respect, the use LEO spaceborne millimeter-wave (MMW) radiometric observations can help since plumes at millimeter wavelength are less optically opaque than at micron ones. To demonstrate this synergy, we show the analysis of the 2014 Kelud eruption case study considering LEO measurements and detection algorithms based on TIR and MMW.