TY - JOUR

T1 - Detecting the development of active lava flow fields with a very-long-range terrestrial laser scanner and thermal imagery.

AU - James, Mike R.

AU - Pinkerton, Harry

AU - Applegarth, Louisa Jane

N1 - An edited version of this paper was published by AGU. Copyright (2009) American Geophysical Union.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Regular topographic surveys of active lava flows could provide significant insight into the development of flow fields, but data of sufficient accuracy, spatial extent and repeat frequency to quantify the processes involved have yet to be acquired. Here, we report results from the use of a new very-long-range terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) on active lavas at Mount Etna, Sicily. The scanner proved capable of providing useful topographic data from volcanic terrain at ranges up to ∼3500 m, with laser returns from ash-covered slopes as well as from lava. Despite very low effusion rates (<1 m3s−1), topographic changes associated with the emplacement and inflation of new flows and the inflation of a tumulus were detected. Irregular data spacing resulting from oblique views makes the interpretation of laser-derived digital elevation models alone difficult, but fusing topographic data with thermal images allows active flow features to be clearly visualized.

AB - Regular topographic surveys of active lava flows could provide significant insight into the development of flow fields, but data of sufficient accuracy, spatial extent and repeat frequency to quantify the processes involved have yet to be acquired. Here, we report results from the use of a new very-long-range terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) on active lavas at Mount Etna, Sicily. The scanner proved capable of providing useful topographic data from volcanic terrain at ranges up to ∼3500 m, with laser returns from ash-covered slopes as well as from lava. Despite very low effusion rates (<1 m3s−1), topographic changes associated with the emplacement and inflation of new flows and the inflation of a tumulus were detected. Irregular data spacing resulting from oblique views makes the interpretation of laser-derived digital elevation models alone difficult, but fusing topographic data with thermal images allows active flow features to be clearly visualized.

U2 - 10.1029/2009GL040701

DO - 10.1029/2009GL040701

M3 - Journal article

VL - 36

SP - L22305

JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

SN - 0094-8276

ER -