False-color satellite image showing snow-capped volcanic peaks and surrounding terrain, with vegetation in red and water bodies in black. The volcano is in the south-west center corner, flanked by lakes and rugged mountainous landscapes.

Volcanic Eruptions and Satellite Limitations: A Multi-Eruption Analysis of ASTER Data

Charlson Kim, Anna Oehlerking, Laila Woods

Abstract

This project investigates the capabilities and constraints of the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) in monitoring volcanic activity, using a comparative, multi-eruption approach. Originally intended to assess land use changes before and after nine volcanic eruptions in Iceland, the study pivoted due to ASTER’s temporal and spatial limitations, namely its 16-day revisit cycle, narrow swath width, and vulnerability to cloud interference.1 These constraints, especially limiting in Iceland’s frequently cloud-covered terrain, significantly limited consistent data availability. In response, the study adopted a mixed-methods approach to evaluate ASTER’s utility and shortcomings for events such as volcanic eruptions. We conducted a case study of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, performed ENVI-based image analysis on the ongoing Sundhnúkur (Iceland) and 2015 Villarrica (Chile) eruptions, and implemented Google Earth Engine (GEE) workflows to analyze the 2015 Mount Asosan (Japan) and 2021 Mount Etna (Italy) eruptions. Each method utilized ASTER’s multispectral imaging capabilities, tailored to each site’s data availability. The analysis reveals that while ASTER can provide highly detailed imagery under optimal conditions, its temporal gaps, cloud sensitivity, and partial loss of functionality greatly limit its utility. Our findings underscore the value of integrating multiple tools and data processing platforms to highlight ASTER’s potential due to these limitations and its original intention of being a supplemental instrument for other satellite measurements.

a table listing volcanic eruptions with details including start and end dates, examination methodology, and key characteristics. Notable eruptions include Eyjafjallajökull (2010), Sundhnúkur (ongoing), Villarrica (2015), Mount Aso (2014–2015), and Mount Etna (2021).

(Table 1) Descriptions of the volcanic eruptions analyzed in this project, including the eruption name, dates, and key characteristics.

A table of ASTER satellite sensor bands with their wavelength ranges, spectral regions, and common applications. It covers visible, near-infrared, shortwave infrared, and thermal infrared bands used for analyzing vegetation, minerals, moisture, and surface temperature.

(Table 2) The spectral bands for ASTER, including their wavelengths, spectral regions, and common uses of these bands in remote sensing analyses.

A satellite map shows a targeted observation area southwest of Iceland, marked with a green and blue overlay and timestamped "2024-03-22 12:33:22."

(Figure A) ASTER data availability for the Sundhnúkur eruption. Of the three images over the 16-month period overlapping with the site, only one covered the entire region.

Satellite image taken on March 22, 2024, showing a plume rising from a volcanic site in the Arctic region, marked with a red arrow. Inset map highlights the volcano’s location in the North Atlantic near Iceland.

(Figure B) Image Taken During the Sundhnúkur Eruption (March 22, 2024).

False-color satellite image showing snow-capped volcanic peaks and surrounding terrain, with vegetation in red and water bodies in black. The volcano is in the south-west center corner, flanked by lakes and rugged mountainous landscapes.

(Figure C) Image of Villarrica Volcano in Chile (February 27, 2015).

Table displaying mineral spectrum names with rankings across five spectral matching methods (SAM, SID, ED, ACE, CEM), color-coded from green (low rank) to red (high rank). Top matches include talc, gypsum, and tremolite, while green vegetation and hematite rank highest (red) in several methods.

(Table 3) Spectral reflectance values extracted from regions of interest on the flanks and summit of Villarrica Volcano using ENVI’s spectral analysis tool. The data show patterns that suggest the presence of volcanic minerals like iron oxides and silica-rich rocks.

False color overlayed on simple 2-d map, displays a bright white plume emanating from the central crater.

(Figure D) Mt. Asosan [Near-Infrared, Red, and Green] bands ASTER Image on July 15, 2015.

Infrared image of Mt. Asosan

(Figure E) Mt. Asosan [‘B13’, ‘B14’] Thermal Infrared bands ASTER Image on July 15, 2015.

graph depicting increase in digital number as wavelength of three distinct points increases

(Figure F) Mt. Asosan TIR Spectral Profiles of ASTER Image on July 15, 2015.

graph of ASTER VNIR profiles from Mount Aso show low reflectance at the crater, moderate reflectance downslope, and high NIR reflectance near the city. These differences reflect volcanic material absorption, transitional zones with sparse vegetation, and dense vegetation in populated areas.

(Figure G) Mt. Asosan VNIR Spectral Profiles of ASTER Image on July 15, 2015.

Left VNIR shows large white cloud formations obscuring much of the volcanic terrain. Right shows ) similarly displays inconsistent data coverage due to these atmospheric obstructions.

(Figure H) Mt. Asosan VNIR (Left), TIR (Right) ASTER Image on March 10, 2015.

A bright white plume rises from Etna’s crater, signaling active volcanic emissions. Surrounding areas show a clear ecological gradient, from healthy vegetation (bright red) to dark volcanic deposits near the crater and older deposits transitioning to vegetation.

(Figure I) Mt. Etna [Near-Infrared, Red, and Green] bands ASTER Image on July 29, 2001.

Black plumes at the crater mark extremely hot eruption materials beyond the sensor’s limit, with bright patches indicating recent lava flows, heated ground, and urban heat island effects. Darker vegetated areas show lower thermal emissions, while a radial thermal pattern from the crater maps active and cooling lava flows.

(Figure J) Mt. Etna TIR bands ASTER Image on July 29, 2001.

graph showing spectral plot with point one higher than point 2 and 3, all showing a sloping curve upwards in digital number as wavelength increases.

(Figure K) Mt. Etna TIR Spectral Profiles of ASTER Image on July 29, 2001.

graph showing spectral plot with Point 1 (crater): Highest thermal values (2100–2600) from intense volcanic heat. Point 3 (city): Intermediate values (1550–2150) from lower elevation and urban heat island effect. Point 2 (slope): Lowest values (1350–1900), cooling with distance from the volcano; all points show increased emission at longer wavelengths.

(Figure L) Mt. Etna TIR Spectral Profiles of ASTER Image on April 15, 2001.

graph where all points sharply fall down at 0.65. Point 2 and 3 sharply increase in digital number after the wavelength changes to 0.80, but point 1 keeps going down.

(Figure M) Mt. Etna VNIR Spectral Profiles of ASTER Image on July 29, 2001.

line graph, point 2 exceptionally high, . Points 1 and 3 demonstrate remarkably similar spectral patterns, both starting near DN 100 at 0.56 μm and gradually decreasing toward the NIR region, though Point 1 decreases more steeply. T

(Figure N) Mt. Etna VNIR Spectral Profiles of ASTER Image on April 15, 2001.

Point 1 (crater): Exhibits low reflectance values (DN 36-40) with a slight upward trend at 2.33 μm, Point 2 (down the mountain): Displays the lowest reflectance (DN 29-31) with a slight downward trend at 2.33 μm, Point 3 (neighboring city): Shows higher reflectance (DN 51-57) with a peak at 2.22 μm.

(Figure O) Mt. Etna SWIR Spectral Profiles of ASTER Image on July 29, 2001.

infrared map, left side majority bright green and yellow with concentration around region of volcano showing dark red. Right side showing area of map covered in red, with bright red markets in a radial pattern around crater.

(Figure P) Mt. Etna NDVI mapping (Left), Lava detection proxy image (Right) ASTER Image on July 29, 2001.