ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the most widely used volcanic plume remote sensing instruments. Several types of instruments, originally designed for other purposes, have been adapted to remotely sense volcanic plumes: cameras, spectrometers, radars and lidars can all be operated from the ground, from aircraft and from satellite platforms. A broad new satellite capability for volcanic clouds is planned for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Earth observing system. Cross-sectional profiles of sulphur dioxide burden in the volcanic plume are obtained by scanning the correlation spectrometer through the plume. Separation of the signal generated by the volcanic flux of these species from the signal generated by the natural background is a technological challenge. These challenges may be met by new applications using methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy or by infrared or ultraviolet spectroscopy. A revolutionary and promising new capability for remote flux measurements is satellite-based remote sensing.
