Exploring the limits of identifying sub-pixel thermal features using ASTER TIR data

Understanding the characteristics of volcanic thermal emissions and how they change with time is important for forecasting and monitoring volcanic activity and potential hazards. Satellite instruments view volcanic thermal features across the globe at various temporal and spatial resolutions. Thermal features that may be a precursor to a major eruption, or indicative of important changes in an on-going eruption can be subtle, making them challenging to reliably identify with satellite instruments. The goal of this study was to explore the limits of the types and magnitudes of thermal anomalies that could be detected using satellite thermal infrared (TIR) data. Specifically, the characterization of sub-pixel thermal features with a wide range of temperatures is considered using ASTER multispectral TIR data. First, theoretical calculations were made to define a “thermal mixing detection threshold” for ASTER, which quantifies the limits of ASTER's ability to resolve sub-pixel thermal mixing over a range of hot target temperatures and % pixel areas. Then, ASTER TIR data were used to model sub-pixel thermal features at the Yellowstone National Park geothermal area (hot spring pools with temperatures from 40 to 90 °C) and at Mount Erebus Volcano, Antarctica (an active lava lake with temperatures from 200 to 800 °C). Finally, various sources of uncertainty in sub-pixel thermal calculations were quantified for these empirical measurements, including pixel resampling, atmospheric correction, and background temperature and emissivity assumptions.     

Multi-instrument remote and in situ observations of the Erebus Volcano (Antarctica) lava lake in 2005: A comparison with the Pele lava lake on the jovian moon Io

The stable, persistent, active lava lake at Erebus volcano (Ross Island, Antarctica) provides an excellent thermal target for analysis of spacecraft observations, and for testing new technology. In the austral summer of 2005 visible and infrared observations of the Erebus lava lake were obtained with sensors on three space vehicles Terra (ASTER, MODIS), Aqua (MODIS) and EO-1 (Hyperion, ALI). Contemporaneous ground-based observations were obtained with hand-held infrared cameras. This allowed a quantitative comparison of the thermal data obtained from different instruments, and of the analytical techniques used to analyze the data, both with and without the constraints imposed by ground-truth. From the thermal camera data, in December 2005 the main Erebus lava lake (Ray Lake) had an area of ≈ 820 m². Surface colour temperatures ranged from 575 K to 1090 K, with a broad peak in the distribution from 730 K to 850 K. Total heat loss was estimated at 23.5 MW. The flux density was ≈ 29 kW m^− 2. Mass flux was estimated at 64 to 93 kg s^− 1. The best correlation between thermal emission and emitting area was obtained with ASTER, which has the best combination of spatial resolution and wavelength coverage, especially in the thermal infrared. The high surface temperature of the lava lake means that Hyperion data are for the most part saturated. Uncertainties, introduced by the need to remove incident sunlight cause the thermal emission from the Hyperion data to be a factor of about two greater than that measured by hand-held thermal camera. MODIS also over-estimated thermal output from the lava lake by the same factor of two because it was detecting reflected sunlight from the rest of the pixel area. The measurement of the detailed temperature distribution on the surface of an active terrestrial lava lake will allow testing of thermal emission models used to interpret remote-sensing data of volcanism on Io, where no such ground-truth exists. Although the Erebus lava lake is four orders of magnitude smaller than the lava lake at Pele on Io, the shape of the integrated thermal emission spectra are similar. Thermal emission from this style of effusive volcanism appears to be invariant. Excess thermal emission in most Pele spectra (compared to Erebus) at short wavelengths (< 3 μm) is most likely due to disruption of the surface on the lava lake by escaping volatiles.     

Age and whole rock–glass compositions of proximal pyroclastics from the major explosive eruptions of Somma-Vesuvius: A review as a tool for distal tephrostratigraphy

A review of compositional data of the major explosive eruptions of Vesuvius is presented, comparing compositions (major elements) of whole rock with glass shards from the proximal deposits, hopefully useful for long-distance correlation. A critical review of published and new geochronological data is also provided. All available ¹⁴C ages are calibrated to give calendar ages useful for the reconstruction of the volcanological evolution of the volcanic complex. The pyroclastic deposits of the four major Plinian eruptions (22,000 yr cal BP “Pomici di Base”, 8900 yr cal BP “Mercato Pumice”, 4300 yr cal BP “Avellino Pumice”, and A.D. 79 “Pompeii Pumice”) are widely dispersed and allow a four-folded, Plinian to Plinian, stratigraphic division: 1. B–M (between Pomici di Base and Mercato); 2. M–A (between Mercato and Avellino); 3. A–P (between Avellino and Pompeii); 4. P–XX (from the Pompeii Pumice to the last erupted products of the XXth century). Within each interval, the age, lithologic and compositional features of pyroclastic deposits of major eruptions, potentially useful for tephrostratigraphic purposes on distal areas, are briefly discussed. The Vesuvius rocks are mostly high Potassic products, widely variable in terms of their silica saturation. They form three groups, different for both composition and age: 1. slightly undersaturated, older than Mercato eruption; 2. mildly undersaturated, from Mercato to Pompeii eruptions; 3. highly undersaturated, younger than Pompeii eruption. For whole rock analyses, the peculiar variations in contents of some major and trace elements as well as different trends in element/element ratios, allow a clear, unequivocal, easy diagnosis of the group they belong. Glass analyses show large compositional overlap between different groups, but selected element vs. element plots are distinctive for the three groups. The comparative analysis of glass and whole rock major element compositions provides reliable geochemical criteria helping in the recognition, frequently not obvious, of distal products from the different single eruptions.     

Estimating thermal inflow to El Chichón crater lake using the energy-budget,chemical and isotope balance approaches

El Chichón crater lake appeared immediately after the 1982 catastrophic eruption in a newly formed, 1-km wide, explosive crater. During the first 2 years after the eruption the lake transformed from hot and ultra-acidic caused by dissolution of magmatic gases, to a warm and less acidic lake due to a rapid “magmatic-to-hydrothermal transition” — input of hydrothermal fluids and oxidation of H₂S to sulfate. Chemical composition of the lake water and other thermal fluids discharging in the crater, stable isotope composition (δD and δ¹⁸O) of lake water, gas condensates and thermal waters collected in 1995–2006 were used for the mass-balance calculations (Cl, SO₄ and isotopic composition) of the thermal flux from the crater floor. The calculated fluxes of thermal fluid by different mass-balance approaches become of the same order of magnitude as those derived from the energy-budget model if values of 1.9 and 2 mmol/mol are taken for the catchment coefficient and the average H₂S concentration in the hydrothermal vapors, respectively. The total heat power from the crater is estimated to be between 35 and 60 MW and the CO₂ flux is not higher than 150 t/day or ~ 200 gm^− 2 day^− 1.     

Volcanism on Io: the view from Galileo

Io, Jupiter's innermost Galilean satellite, is the most volcanically active body in the solar system. Ashley Gerard Davies reviews the wealth of data returned by NASA's veteran spacecraft Galileo, that has led to a better understanding of the volcanic processes wracking Io.
Jupiter's moon Io is the only other body in the solar system known to have active, high-temperature volcanism like that found on Earth. The Galileo spacecraft has been observing Io regularly since June 1996, and the data that it has returned have led to many new insights into the volcanic processes that have shaped not only Io, but Earth in its distant past.     

Mortality in England during the 1783–4 Laki Craters eruption

1783/4 has been recognised as a mortality crisis year in the population history of England. This demographic incident coincides with the Laki Craters eruption, Iceland, which began in June 1783 and fumigated many parts of Europe with volcanic gases and particles. Many reports and proxy climate records implicate the volcanic cloud in meteorological anomalies, including notably hot 1783 summer conditions in England and a severe subsequent winter. We present here a detailed analysis of the geographical and temporal trends in English mortality data, and interpret them in the light of the climatological records and observations of the pollutant cloud. We show that there were two distinct crisis periods: in August-September 1783, and January-February 1784, which together accounted for ~20,000 extra deaths. In both cases, the East of England was the worst affected region. Possible causes for the two crisis periods are considered and we conclude that the timing and magnitude of the winter mortality peak can be explained by the severe cold of January 1784. The late summer mortality followed 1–2 months after the very hot July of 1783 and may also have been related to the weather, with the time lag reflecting the relatively slow spread of enteric disease or the contraction of malaria. However, it is hard to explain the entire late summer anomaly by these high temperature causes. We therefore consider that fine acid aerosol and/or gases in the volcanic haze may also have contributed to the unusual August-September mortality. Given that complex radiative and dynamical effects of the volcanic cloud are implicated in the climatic anomalies in 1783–4, it is likely that the Laki Craters eruption did play a role in the English mortality crises of the same period.Editorial responsibility: R. Cioni     

The role of different forms of natural riparian vegetation on turbulence and kinetic energy characteristics

Flow measurements were conducted by ADV Vectrino to investigate the role of different forms of single natural emergent vegetation elements on kinetic energy characteristics and the flow structure in open channel flow. Experiments were carried out for both forms of “erect” and “compressed” vegetation. The findings revealed that the form of “erect” has greater retaining influence on time-averaged mean velocity characteristics than “compressed” form. Furthermore, the turbulence and kinetic energy patterns behind the single vegetation were also examined. An empirical equation giving the relationship between the kinetic energy components of flow was derived based on the data. The ratio between turbulence kinetic energy and mean kinetic energy at a certain distance downstream of vegetation element was predicted by the empirical equation depending on the vegetation characteristics. These predictions were compared with a different experimental data set and produced satisfactory results. Also, the mean flow and turbulence characteristics behind an isolated natural plant and a volumetrically equivalent rigid cylinder were also compared.     

The 1989 submarine eruption off eastern Izu Peninsula,Japan: ejecta and eruption mechanisms

The submarine eruption of a new small knoll, which was named Teishi knoll, off eastern Izu Peninsula behind the Izu-Mariana arc occurred in the evening of 13 July 1989. This is the first historic eruption of the Higashi-Izu monogenetic volcano group. The eruption of 13 July followed an earthquake swarm near Ito city starting on 30 June. There were subsequent volcanic tremors on 11 and 12 July, and the formation of the Teishi knoll on the 100 m deep insular shelf 4 km northeast of Ito city. There were five submarine explosions, which were characterized by intermittent domelike bulges of water and black tephra-jets, which occurred within 10 min on 13 July. Ejecta of the eruption was small in volume and composed of highly crystalline basalt scoria, highly vesiculated pumice, and lithic material. Petrographical features suggest that the pumice was produced by vesiculation of reheated wet felsic tuff of an older formation. The Teishi knoll, before the eruption, was a circular dome, 450 m across and 25 m high, with steep sides and a flat summit. Considerations of submarine topographic change indicate the knoll was raised by sill-like intrusion of 10⁶ m³ of magma beneath a 30 m thick sediment blanket. This shallow intrusion is assumed to have started on 11 July when volcanic tremors were observed for the first time, but there was no indications of violent interaction between wet host sediments and intruding magma. The submarine eruption of 13 July appears to have been Friggered by a major lowering of the magma-column. The basalt scoria, having crystal-contents of more than 60%, is assumed to be derived from the cooled plastic margin of the shallow intrusive body. However, glassy scoria, which would indicate the interaction between hot fluidal magma and external water, was not observed. A scenario for the 1989 submarine eruption is as follows. When rapid subsidence of the hot interior of the intrusive magma occurred, reduced pressure caused the implosion of cooled plastic magma, adjacent pressurized, hot host material, and wet sediment. The mixing of these materials triggered the vigorous vapor explosions.     

Comparison of methods for integrating biological and physical data for marine habitat mapping and classification

An important first step in marine spatial planning and ecosystem-based management efforts is the creation of benthic habitat maps that allow scientists and managers to understand the distribution of living and non-living resources on the seafloor. However, the location of boundaries between and composition of habitats is highly dependent on the approach taken to integrate abiotic and biotic information. The purpose of this study was to test “top-down” and “bottom-up” approaches for integrating physical and biological data derived from commonly used sub-tidal benthic mapping tools to create a habitat map compatible with the US Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). We found that a top-down framework, where we tested for differences in macrofauna assemblages among side scan sonar facies, defined two broad-scale and general habitats. Using the bottom-up approach, where patterns in abiotic and biotic variables were examined with multivariate statistics (BEST, LINKTREE, ANOSIM, SIMPER), we generated seven biotopes based on the macrofauna abundance, percent sand, water depth, and backscatter standard deviation that corresponded well to, but provided more fine-scale detail than the top-down habitats. We were able to use the statistical relationship between abiotic variables and macrofauna assemblages in the LINKTREE to predict the spatial distribution of assemblages over ∼50% of the study area. We created a local catalogue of biotopes specific to our study area that contributes to the CMECS library. In addition, we were able to fully map CMECS Geoform, Surface Geology, and Biotic Cover Components. This mapping effort represented real progress toward reconciling the “data density mismatch” between physical and biological mapping methods, and it provided further evidence that using a bottom-up methodology preserves species–environment relationships.     

Shallow magma transport for the 2002–3 Mt. Etna eruption inferred from thermal infrared surveys

The 26 October 2002–28 January 2003 eruption of Mt. Etna volcano was characterised by lava effusion and by an uncommon explosivity along a 1 km-long-eruptive fissure on the southern, upper flank of the volcano. The intense activity promoted rapid growth of cinder cones and several effusive vents. Analysis of thermal images, recorded throughout the eruption, allowed investigation of the distribution of vents along the eruptive fissure, and of the nature of explosive activity. The spatial and temporal distribution of active vents revealed phases of dike intrusion, expansion, geometric stabilization and drainage. These phases were characterised by different styles of explosive activity, with a gradual transition from fire fountaining through transitional phases to mild strombolian activity, and ending with non-explosive lava effusion. Here we interpret the mechanisms of the dike emplacement and the eruptive dynamics, according to changes in the eruptive style, vent morphology and apparent temperature variations at vents, detected through thermal imaging. This is the first time that dike emplacement and eruptive activity have been tracked using a handheld thermal camera and we believe that its use was crucial to gain a detailed understanding of the eruptive event.     

Volcanic ash: A primary agent in the Earth system

Volcanic ash, a ubiquitous product of eruptions can have an impact that is local, regional and/or global, depending on the style and intensity of both the eruption and the subsequent interactions with the Earth system. Here, we review some of the complexities of these important interactions, which combine to determine the role of volcanic ash as an important agent on our planet.     

Temperature of an active lava channel from spectral measurements,Kilauea Volcano,Hawaii

A narrow band spectroradiometer was used to determine the characteristic temperatures of a very active channeled lava flow for the phase 50 eruption of Pu'u 'O'o on the East Rift Zone of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. During the twilight of 19 February 1992, 14 spectra of this activity were acquired over a 51 minute interval [18.29 to 19.20 Hawaiian Standard Time (HST)], from which the thermal distribution of energy of two 18 m² areas, one near the center and one near the margin of the flow, may be investigated. A twocomponent thermal mixing model applied to the data taken of the center of the channel gave, in the most powerful instance (1.8x10⁵ W/m²), a crust temperature of 940° C, a hot component temperature of 1120°C and a hot radiating area of 60% of the total area. A simultaneous spectrum acquired near the channeled flow margin yielded a crust temperature of 586° C and a hot area of only 1.2% of the total area radiating at 1130° C. Average radiant flux densities recorded for the center of the lava channel (1.3x10⁵ W/m² average) are much greater than previous measurements of lava lakes (4.9x10³ W/m²) or recently emplaced lava flows (maximum of 7.2x10⁴ W/m²). The energetic nature of this eruption is shown by satellite measurements made at 02.33 HST on 22 February 1992 by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer in Band 2 (0.72–1.10 m). These show the utility of using existing satellites with moderate resolution (1 km x 1 km pixels) and high temporal coverage (eight overpasses each day for Hawaii) as potential thermal alarms for rapidly assessing the hazard potential of large volcanic eruptions.     

Comparison of the response of the Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus and the Earth Observing-1 Advanced Land Imager over active lava flows

Using near simultaneously acquired Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Earth Observing-1 Advanced Land Imager (ALI) data we assess the relative radiant responses over active lava flows from the Mt. Etna July/August 2001 flank eruption. By assessing the extent of saturation between the two instruments and using the dual-band method of extracting sub pixel thermal information, we show that the ALI represents an improvement over the ETM+ in the present ability to assess temperatures of hot active lava flows for a number of reasons. (1) The extra spectral channels provided by ALI compliment the current SWIR channels on ETM+ by providing a greater number of paired channel combinations for input into the dual-band method. Thus, dual-band temperature solutions can be determined for a greater range of lava flow types than previously possible using the two paired channel combinations available with the ETM+. (2) The ALI instrument is less susceptible than ETM+ to saturation within the SWIR, especially when using channels 5, 5p and 4p at wavelengths of 1.65, 1.25 and 0.87 μm respectively. (3) The greater radiometric sensitivity of the ALI 12 bit electronics coupled with a significantly higher signal to noise ratio aid in obtaining successful dual-band solutions.     

下扬子区地温场和大地热流密度分布

根据下扬子区５０余口井温测量资料，从中选取能代表地层温度的井温数据计算地温梯度，在实验室中测量中、新生界的１１０余块砂岩和泥岩热导率及古生界碳酸岩和砂岩１００余块露头样品的热导率．在此基础上，确定了４１口井的大地热流密度值．地温梯度和大地热流密度分布表明，下扬子大部分地区中生代构造热事件伴随的热异常已不明显，而新生代时期岩石层拉张地区─－苏北盆地和郯庐断裂带是高热流密度和高地温梯度区．     

Tectonic episodicity and convective feedback mechanisms

The evolution of the Earth is characterized by irreversible processes: radioactive decay of the major heat-producing elements, thermal convection and chemical segregation. The prevailing heating from within and the temperature dependence of the viscosity are essential for thermal convection. In the present paper, the chemical and thermal evolution of the mantle and the generation of the continent material are represented by a two-dimensional and finite-difference Boussinesq convection model. We have incorporated the above-mentioned principal features in this model, a geochemical paper by Hofmann (1988, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 90: 297–314) constituting our starting point for the distribution of the radionuclides. The concentration of the radionuclides and the viscosity are functions of the location and time developing according to our system of differential equations. Although the real Earth is a much more complex system, we have dared to make a comparison with observed geophysical and geological data; we obtain a depleted upper mantle and acceptable values for the heat flow on the surface of the Earth as well as for the distribution of temperature, viscosity and of the velocity of creep in the mantle. The ups and downs of the convective vigour of the model roughly resemble the supercontinental cycles, the world-wide distribution of mineral dates in time, the sea-level variations and the variations of a number of geochemical parameters.     

Statistical analysis of earthquake activity at Etna volcano (March 1981 eruption)

Seismic activity that preceded, accompanied, and followed the 17–23 March 1981 Etnean eruption has been statistically analyzed.On the grounds of both time evolution of seismicity and catalogue completeness, three time intervals have been defined (12 February–2 March, 12–17 March, 19–31 March) and for each of these periods both the b coefficient of theGutenberg-Richter's (1956) relationship and the E parameter of the cluster size (Shlien andToksoz, 1970) have been calculated.No significant variations were observed between the first and third periods, while lower values of bothb andE coefficients were found in the second one. These findings might indicate that changes in the seismicity features occur just before the eruption start.Small but fast variations in the stress field acting on the volcano might originate this type of seismic activity, while the importance of the tectonic control on volcanic phenomena seems to be confirmed.     

Surface circulation downstream of the Point Arena upwelling center

Measurements from recently installed 5 MHz high-frequency radar (CODAR) stations south of Point Arena, California, are used to describe surface current patterns during the upwelling season (June-August 2007). The systems provide hourly current maps on a 5-km grid, covering a region from approximately 10 to 150 km offshore (the continental shelf into the deep ocean). These HF-radar observations provide an unprecedented view of circulation in this “coastal transition zone”, between the wind-driven circulation over the shelf and the California Current circulation offshore. Circulation patterns include: (1) bifurcation of the coastal upwelling jet downstream of Point Arena into an along-shelf (down-coast) branch and an offshore branch, and (2) a large-scale anticyclonic meander that often develops into an eddy-like recirculation south of the bifurcation. The “recirculation” feature extends well offshore, with surface currents 50-100 km from the coast consistently opposing the wind stress. The spatial and temporal evolution of the surface current features during upwelling events affects surface transport from Point Arena to areas in the south, increasing the travel time of a substantial fraction of newly upwelled water from a few days to roughly two weeks. Thus, surface currents even far offshore influence coastal transport of nutrients, phytoplankton and larvae on ecologically relevant timescales, with resultant connectivity patterns very different than implied by a simple examination of the mean flow.     

Primary igneous anhydrite: Progress since its recognition in the 1982 El Chichón trachyandesite

Primary igneous anhydrite was first identified in 1982 El Chichón pumices. Analysis of the sulfur budget for the eruption provided compelling evidence that the pre-eruptive magma contained a significant gas phase at ∼ 7 km depth in order to account for the “excess gas release” of ∼ 5–9 million tons of SO₂ to the stratosphere by the eruption. Primary igneous anhydrite and a larger “excess gas release” of ∼ 20 million tons of SO₂ were noted for the significantly larger eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, for which a separate gas phase at ∼ 7–9 km depth was also required by the sulfur budget. Pumices from both eruptions have mineral assemblages dominated by plagioclase and hornblende, with minor biotite, and show evidence for co-nucleation and mutual inclusions of anhydrite and apatite. Both magmas were also very water-rich and highly oxidized, with oxygen fugacities $1 log unit above the synthetic Ni–NiO buffer. Furthering the similarities between these two eruptions, ion-microprobe analyses of sulfur isotopic compositions of anhydrites in pumices from El Chichón and Mount Pinatubo both showed that individual crystals are isotopically homogeneous, but inter-crystalline variations in δ³⁴S are well beyond analytical error.     

Chemical divides and evaporite assemblages on Mars

Assemblages of evaporite minerals record detailed physical and chemical characteristics of ancient surficial environments. Accordingly, newly discovered regions of saline minerals on Mars are high priority targets for exploration. The chemical divide concept of evaporite mineral formation is used successfully to predict evaporite mineralogy and brine evolution on Earth. However, basaltic weathering largely controls fluid compositions on Mars and the robust predictive capabilities of terrestrial chemical divides cannot be used to interpret Martian evaporites. Here we present a new chemical divide system that predicts evaporite assemblages identified in SNC-type meteorites, ancient evaporites discovered on Meridiani Planum by the Opportunity rover, and Mars Express OMEGA data. We suggest that a common fluid type that has been buffered to different pH levels by basaltic weathering controls the variability among Martian evaporite assemblages and that evaporite mineralogy and brine evolution is essentially established by the initial composition of the dilute evaporating fluid.     

Linking landslides,hillslope erosion,and landscape evolution

This Virtual Issue highlights 10 recent innovative, unconventional, or otherwise significant contributions to Earth Surface Processes and Landforms that help advance the state‐of‐the‐art in research on linkages between landslides, hillslope erosion, and landscape evolution. The selected studies address this feedback within a temporal spectrum that ranges from the event to the millennial scale, thus underscoring the importance of detailed field observations, high‐resolution digital topographic data, and geochronological methods for increasing our capability of quantifying landslide processes and hillslope erosion. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.