Satellite and Slow-Scan Television Observations of the Rise and Dispersion of Ash-Rich Eruption Clouds from Redoubt Volcano, Alaska,
Abstract
Polar-orbiting NOAA 10 and 11 weather satellites with their Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) imaging sensors and the Landsat 4 and 5 satellites have provided over 30 images of the 1989/90 eruptions of Redoubt Volcano. Between December 14 and April 21, about 20 major explosive eruptions occurred with ash plumes rising to heights of 10 km or more, most of them penetrating the tropopause. The ash severely impacted domestic and international air traffic in Alaska with a near disaster on December 15, 1989, when a KLM 747-400 jet aircraft with 247 people aboard intercepted an ash plume and temporarily lost all four engines. Fortunately, the engines were eventually restarted after several attempts and the plane landed safely in Anchorage. We have used satellite and also slow-scan television (TV) observations to study the dynamics and thermodynamics of rising eruption plumes in order to better understand plume dispersal.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADP007366
Entities
People
- A. W. Woods
- Juergen Kienle
- K. Ahlnaes
- S. A. Estes
Organizations
- University of Alaska Fairbanks