Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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UP: Fachverband Umweltphysik

UP 1: Poster Session

UP 1.16: Poster

Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 18:30–20:30, P2

Volcanic plume observations with a SO₂-Camera — •Sebastian Illing, Peter Lübcke, Leif Vogel, Nicole Bobrowski, Christoph Kern, and Ulrich Platt — Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg, Germany

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) flux emission measurements can be an important tool for monitoring volcanoes and eruption risk assessment.

The SO₂ camera is a relatively novel technique for remote sensing of volcanic emissions. It images the ultra-violet absorption of SO₂ in a narrow wavelength window around 310 nm on a 2-D UV-sensitive CCD detector employing scattered sunlight as a light source. The effect of light extinction by aerosol scattering in the same wavelength range can be eliminated by additionally imaging the incident radiation around 325 nm where the absorption of SO₂ is no longer significant. The high time resolution on the order of 1 Hz allows the calculation of the wind-speed directly from the measurements including topographic effects, thus largely eliminating one main error source of flux measurements.

The new set-up will be introduced, which incorporates an additional Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) system. Advantages of this combination of 2-D imaging and 1-D spectroscopy of high sensibility will be discussed and compared to the earlier setup and measurements. E.g., the combination of systems allows for constant calibration as well as study and correction of radiative transfer effects. First experimental results will be presented from the upcoming campaign in February 2011 at volcanoes Popocatépetl and Colima, Mexico.