ASHE Acoustic Surveillance for Hazardous Eruptions

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ASHE - Acoustic Surveillance for Hazardous
Eruptions

• David McCormack, Geological Survey of Canada
• Henry Bass, NCPA University of Mississippi
• Milton Garces, University of Hawaii
• Michael Hedlin, UCSD
• Hugo Yepes, Escuela Politcnica Nacional, Quito,
  Ecuador

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Issue

• Volcanic ash presents a significant hazard to
  aircraft operation (gt200 aircraft/ash
  interactions in last 20 years)
• Current practice denies large volumes of airspace
  for long periods of time
• There are significant operational difficulties
  with existing warning systems
• Seismic monitoring
• Satellite observation
• Pilot reports

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Requirements of User Community

• Requests from ICAO, FAA
• Perception that airborne ash is an accident
  waiting to happen
• Aviation community would like 5 minute warning

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Infrasound

• Has the potential to continuously monitor
  relatively cheaply over hundreds of kilometres
• Is now a mature, proven technology suitable for
  deployment in remote areas

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Concept
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Should it work?

• In principle, yes
• Mt St Helens deployment 2004-05

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At c. 20 km
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At c. 250 km
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Ash Transport
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Plans

• Deploying 2 arrays in Ecuador in 2005
• 4-element 100 metre aperture
• Autonomous satellite telemetered
• Operate in source-rich environment in real time
  mode

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Operational Concept
Analysis centre
VAAC
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Outcome

• By 2007, to develop a clear understanding of the
  contribution of infrasound to operational
  monitoring for eruptive episodes of hazard to air
  navigation

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Science Questions

• We can build a simple operational system without
  understanding much of the science
• However, regional infrasound gives a real
  opportunity for insight into volcanic and
  associated atmospheric processes

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Challenge Define Source Term for ATM
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Data Distribution 1

• A few scientific infrasound arrays are starting
  to appear
• e.g. Elginfield Array (UWO) collocated with radar
  and all-sky camera systems for bolide
  detection/yield estimation
• Scientific community understands how to handle
  the data distribution from these facilities
• However, most extant systems are CTBT or other
  monitoring community arrays (e.g. DoE)

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Data Distribution 2

• Data distribution from IMS has been problematic
• Some progress has been made recently in Vienna
  following the Indian Ocean tsunami
• Principle of data sovereignty is well-established
• Working state-by-state to establish a norm of
  open distribution
• Clear opportunity for leverage of IRIS capability
  for infrasound data distribution to scientific
  community