A new infrared volcano monitoring using GCOM-C (SHIKISAI) satellite: applications to the Asia-Pacific region

Takayuki Kaneko,Atsushi Yasuda,Hiroshi Murakami,Kenji Takasaki,Kouji Kajiwara,Shun Nakano,Yoshiaki Honda,Toshitsugu Fujii

doi:10.1186/s40623-020-01246-7

Abstract

The GCOM-C (SHIKISAI) satellite was developed to understand the mechanisms of global climate change. The second-generation global imager (SGLI) onboard GCOM-C is an optical sensor observing wavelengths from 380 nm to 12.0 μm in 19 bands. One of the notable features is that the resolution of the 1.63, 10.8, and 12.0 µm bands is 250 m, with an observation frequency of 2–3 days. To investigate the effective use and potential of the 250 m resolution of these SGLI bands in the study of eruptive activities, we analyzed four practical cases. As an example of large-scale effusive activity, we studied the 2018 Kilauea eruption. By analyzing the series of 10.8 μm band images using cumulative thermal anomaly maps, we could observe that the lava effused on the lower East Rift Zone, initially flowed down the southern slope to the sea, and then moved eastward. As an example of lava dome growth and generation of associated pyroclastic flows, the activity at Sheveluch between December 2018 and December 2019 was analyzed. The 1.63 and 10.8 µm bands were shown to be suitable for observing growth of the lava dome and occurrence of pyroclastic flows, respectively. We found that the pyroclastic flows occurred during periods of rapid lava dome expansion. For the study of an active crater lake, the activity of Ijen during 2019 was analyzed. The lake temperature was found to rise rapidly in mid-May and reach 38 °C in mid-June. We also analyzed the intermittent activities of small-scale vulcanian eruptions at Sakurajima in 2019. The 1.63 µm band was useful for detecting activities that are associated with vulcanian eruptions. Analytical results for these case studies demonstrated that the GCOM-C SGLI images are beneficial for observing various aspects of volcanic activity, and their real-time use may contribute to reducing eruption-related disasters.

Highlights

The Global Change Observation Mission-Climate (GCOM-C, SHIKISAI) satellite was developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and successfully launched in December 2017
In the images of late May (Fig. 2f, g), lava flowing down the slope to the southeast has reached the coast near MacKenzie State Recreation Area and flowed into the sea
The image from 8 June (Fig. 2h) shows that lava flows are heading east from the vicinity of the first eruption sites, have buried Kapoho Crater, and are flowing into Kapoho Bay

Summary

Introduction

The Global Change Observation Mission-Climate (GCOM-C, SHIKISAI) satellite was developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and successfully launched in December 2017. SGLI, Kaneko et al Earth, Planets and Space (2020) 72:115 has two significant advantages for volcano observation: the resolution of the infrared bands at 1.63, 10.8, and 12.0 μm is 250 m and the observation frequency is relatively high—about the same level as the NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) (JAXA 2018a). By applying this distinctive satellite imaging capability to volcanic infrared surveys, we can obtain useful information that cannot be gathered by other satellites, which might greatly contribute to advances in volcano observation

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Conclusion