A global monitoring system to detect aerosols and SO2 using a combination of GEO and LEO satellite data

Detecting and tracking volcanic clouds using complementary GEO and LEO data is highly important for the mitigation of volcanic hazards. Here we present a new observation system that expands the Support to Aviation Control Service (SACS), currently using only LEO products, with observations from a suite of GEOs - like SEVIRI (onboard MSG), FCI (onboard MTG), ABI (onboard GOES-W and GOES-E), and AHI (onboard HIMAWARI-9), forming the so-called GEO-Ring.

The presentation is divided in two parts. First, we present our work on an improved GEO detection product for aerosols and SO₂, largely inspired by an approach developed for IASI (Clarisse et al., 2013). We show that this technique improves the detection of hazardous clouds, particularly for thick plumes, and leads to fewer false detections. For several recent events, we compare the results to data from the IASI and TROPOMI instruments and show that similar patterns are found between LEO and GEO detections. New RGB imagery based on improved volcanic and cloud detection from GEO satellites will be presented. This is a great asset as it opens the perspective of high temporal resolution sensitive detection of aerosols and SO₂, at nearly global scale. Second, we present a web-based data service under development, integrating near-real time data from the GEO-Ring and LEO sensors into a single system. With several examples, we illustrate the added value of this approach. Finally, we discuss our plans with respect to new sensors recently launched (onboard MTG-S and Metop-SG).

This work was performed as part of the Belgian Natural Hazards Monitoring from Satellites (NAMSAT) project, funded under the BELSPO Impulse Actions program (project IM/RT/23/NAMSAT of https://www.belspo.be/belspo/fedra/prog.asp?l=en&COD=IM).

Clarisse, L., Coheur, P.-F., Prata, F., Hadji-Lazaro, J., Hurtmans, D., and Clerbaux, C.: A unified approach to infrared aerosol remote sensing and type specification, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 2195–2221, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-2195-2013, 2013.