Toward monitoring the relationship between vegetation condition and volcanic activity with HyspIRI

Alexander Koltunov, University of California, Davis, akoltunov@ucdavis.edu (Presenter)
Angeles Casas, University of California, Davis, acasas@ucdavis.edu
Susan L. Ustin, University of California Davis, slustin@ucdavis.edu

More than three decades of satellite monitoring have significantly advanced our quantitative understanding of volcanic processes and their interactions with the atmosphere, proving satellite remote sensing to be a useful tool for volcanologists to quantify volcanic plumes, which has reduced aviation hazards from volcanic emissions. These advances, however, have not been accompanied by an adequate success in timely measuring, mapping, or quantitative modeling of biospheric impacts of volcanic activity.

Our ongoing NASA-sponsored study is aimed at demonstrating that changes in the extent and health of vegetation in proximity to a degassing volcano will be observable in data from the upcoming Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) mission, which will provide a global coverage with combined hyperspectral + multispectral thermal images at 60-m resolution nearly as frequently as Landsat.

We discuss the first steps and the initial results obtained with HyspIRI-like multi-date imagery simulated from selected Hyperion flightlines acquired in 2007, 2008, and 2010 in proximity of Kilauea volcano (the Island of Hawaii). In March 2008, a new vent from Halemaumau opened at Kilauea. Since April 2008 through 2010, the vent emitted high concentrations of SO₂ (1,500-2,000 tonnes/day) in the gas plume that is dispersed over different parts of the Island, depending on the wind direction, apparently affecting vegetation at different temporal and spatial scales.

To detect vegetation decline we used the HyspIRI-like images to characterize vegetation biophysical, biochemical, and structural properties in the area by numerically inverting the PROSAILH radiative transfer model. Should the observed changes in vegetation be attributed to volcanic activity, and in particular, to the SO₂ emissions? Our preliminary results suggest that the future HyspIRI mission will be suitable for monitoring vegetation response to volcanic activity and will also advance our understanding of eruption bio-precursors.

Presentation Type:  Poster

Session:  Other   (Wed 10:00 AM)

Associated Project(s): 

• Koltunov, Alex: Toward monitoring the relationship between vegetation conditions and volcanic activity with HyspIRI ...details

Poster Location ID: 187