Abstract
A safe, easy and rapid method to calculate lava effusion rates using hand-held thermal image data was developed during June 2003 at Stromboli Volcano (Italy). We used a Forward Looking Infrared Radiometer (FLIR) to obtain images of the active lava flow field on a daily basis between May 31 and June 16, 2003. During this time the flow field geometry and size (where flows typically a few hundred meters long were emplaced on a steep slope) meant that near-vertical images of the whole flow field could be captured in a single image obtained from a helicopter hovering, at an altitude of 750 m and ∼1 km off shore. We used these images to adapt a thermally based effusion rate method, previously applied to low and high spatial resolution satellite data, to allow automated extraction of effusion rates from the hand-held thermal infrared imagery. A comparison between a thermally-derived (0.23–0.87 m3 s−1) and dimensionally-derived effusion rate (0.56 m3 s−1) showed that the thermally-derived range was centered on the expected value. Over the measurement period, the mean effusion rate was 0.38±0.25 m3 s−1, which is similar to that obtained during the 1985–86 effusive eruption and the time-averaged supply rate calculated for normal (non-effusive) Strombolian activity. A short effusive pulse, reaching a peak of ∼1.2 m3 s−1, was recorded on June 3, 2003. One explanation of such a peak would be an increase in driving pressure due to an increase in the height of the magma contained in the central column. We estimate that this pulse would require the magma column to attain a height of ∼190 m above the effusive vent, which is approximately the elevation difference between the vent and the floor of the NE crater. Our approach gives an easy-to-apply method that has the potential to provide effusion rate time series with a high temporal resolution.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allard P, Carbonnelle J, Metrich N, Loyer H, Zettwoog P (1994) Sulphur output and magma degassing budget of Stromboli volcano. Nature 368:326–330
Calvari S, Neri M, Pinkerton H (2002) Effusion rate estimations during the 1999 summit eruption on Mount Etna, and growth of two distinct lava flow fields. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 119:107–123
Calvari S, Andronico D, Burton MR, Dehn J, Garfì G, Harris A, Lodato L, Patrick M, Spampinato L (2005) Volcanic processes during the 2002–2003 flank eruption at Stromboli volcano detected through monitoring with a handheld thermal camera. J Geophys Res
Crisp J, Baloga S (1990) A method for estimating eruption rates of planetary lava flows. Icarus 85:512–515
Dehn J, Patrick MR, Harris AJL, Ripepe M, Calvari S (2004) Handheld infrared imaging of strombolian eruptions. Bull Volcanol: in review
Francalanci L, Tommasini S, Conticelli S, Davies GR (1999) Sr isotope evidence for short magma residence time for the 20th century activity at Stromboli volcano, Italy. Earth Plan Sci Lett 167:1–69
Harris AJL, Neri M (2002) Volumetric observations during paroxysmal eruptions at Mount Etna: pressurized drainage of a shallow chamber or pulsed supply? J Volcanol Geotherm Res 116:79–95
Harris AJL, Stevenson DS (1997) Magma budgets and steady-state activity of Vulcano and Stromboli volcanoes. Geophys Res Lett 24:1043–1046
Harris AJL, Butterworth AL, Carlton RW, Downey I, Miller P, Navarro P, Rothery DA (1997) Low cost volcano surveillance from space: case studies from Etna, Krafla, Cerro Negro, Fogo, Lascar and Erebus. Bull Volcanol 59:49–64
Harris AJL, Flynn LP, Keszthelyi L, Mouginis-Mark PJ, Rowland SK, Resing JA (1998) Calculation of Lava Effusion Rates from Landsat TM Data. Bull Volcanol 60:52–71
Harris AJL, Murray JB, Aries SE, Davies MA, Flynn LP, Wooster MJ, Wright R, Rothery DA (2000) Effusion rate trends at Etna and Krafla and their implications for eruptive mechanisms. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 102:237–269
Jeffreys H (1925) The flow of water in an inclined channel of rectangular section. Phil Mag 49:793–807
Kauahikaua J, Mangan M, Heliker C, Mattox T (1996) A quantitative look at the demise of a basaltic vent: the death of Kupianaha, Kilauea Volcano, Hawai’i. Bull Volcanol 57:641–648
Kneizys FX, Shettle EP, Gallery WO, Chetwynd JH, Abreu LW, Selby JEA, Clough SA, Fenn RW (1983) Atmospheric transmittance/radiance: computer code LOWTRAN 6. Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, Environmental Research Paper 846, Hanscom AFB, MA
Keszthelyi L, Denlinger R (1996) The initial cooling of pahoehoe flow lobes. Bull Volcanol 58:5–28
Keszthelyi L, Harris AJL, Dehn J (2003) Observations of the effect of wind on the cooling of active lava flows. J Geophys Res 30:SDE 4-1–SDE 4-4
Marchetti E, Ichahara M, Ripepe M (2004) Propagation of acoustic waves in a viscoelastic two-phase system: influence of gas bubble concentration. J Volcanol Geotherm Res: in press
Nappi G, Renzulli A (1989) Stromboli. Bull Volcanic Eruptions 26:1–3
Ripepe M, Gordeev E (1999) Gas bubble dynamics model for shallow volcanic tremor at Stromboli. J Geophys Res 104:10639–10654
Patrick M (2002) Numerical modeling of lava flow cooling applied to the 1997 Okmok eruption: comparison with AVHRR thermal imagery. MSc thesis University of Alaska Fairbanks: 141 p
Pieri DC, Baloga SM (1986) Eruption rate, area, and length relationships for some Hawaiian lava flows. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 30:29–45
Rossi M, Sbrana A (1988) Stromboli. Bull Volcanic Eruptions 25:7–8
Shaw HR (1969) Rheology of basalt in the melting range. J Petrol 10:510–35
Sutton AJ, Elias T, Kauahikaua J (2003) Lava-effusion rates for the Pu’u ‘Ö’ö-Küpaianaha eruption derived from SO2 emissions and very low frequency (VLF) measurements. USGS Prof paper 1676:137–148
Wright R, Blake S, Harris A, Rothery D (2001) A simple explanation for the space-based calculation of lava eruptions rates. Earth Planetary Sci Lett 192:223–233
Wooster MJ, Wright R, Blake S, Rothery DA (1997) Cooling mechanisms and an approximate thermal budget for the 1991–1993 Mount Etna lava flow. Geophys Res Lett 24(24):3277–3280
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by NSF grant EAR-0207734 and a grant from the United States Geological Survey. We are extremely grateful to the Italian Civil Protection and the pilots of Air Walser for facilitating and supporting our work on Stromboli, and to Lionel Wilson and an anonymous reviewer for providing two thorough reviews
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Editorial responsibility: M. Carroll
Appendices
Appendix A: MATLAB software
The MATLAB software (written by MP) ingests a FLIR image or image mosaic and then, using the lava temperature threshold, identifies all lava pixels. Next, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, the software calculates the radiative and convective heat losses for each pixel using the pixel temperature and area. Total heat loss for the whole lava flow is then obtained by summing all of the individual pixel heat losses. The software finally outputs the parameters given in Table A1.
Thermacam Researcher software
Given the limits of the Thermacam Researcher software, our software (written by JD) approach has to be slightly less sophisticated. Mainly, we are unable to make a pixel-by-pixel analysis. Thus our approach is modified as follows. Firstly, we identify lava area greater than the defined temparature threshold. Secondly, we obtain a median temperature using all lava pixels. Thirdly, we calculate the heat losses using the median temperature and lava area. Finally, we use the heat loss range to output an effusion rate range. The software thus outputs the parameters given in Table A2.
When compared using the same image, the two sets of software give comparable results, with the Thermacam software giving a narrower range of effusion rates that fall within the MATLAB-derived range.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harris, A., Dehn, J., Patrick, M. et al. Lava effusion rates from hand-held thermal infrared imagery: an example from the June 2003 effusive activity at Stromboli. Bull Volcanol 68, 107–117 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-005-0425-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-005-0425-7