Course Description

The focus of this series of modules is to provide the operational meteorologist with a thorough understanding of:

  1. The cause and characteristics of volcanic eruptions
  2. Detecting volcanic ash
  3. Forecasting plume movement
  4. Assessing societal impacts

This knowledge will increase the meteorologist’s situational awareness regarding volcanoes and volcanic eruptions. It also will enable one to interpret the various volcanic products and translate scientific information about volcanoes into terms that are meaningful to the public.

This course provides information to meteorologists serving at an operational weather forecast office that may become the primary point of information dissemination during an eruption. This material also is useful to emergency managers and other decision-makers in various organizations in preparing communities and organizations for potential impacts of a volcanic event.

Specific focus areas include:

  • Source: Types of eruptions, types of volcanic ash and aerosols, and the role of plume height.
  • Dispersion process: The processes of settling/deposition, scavenging, and transport; the HYSPLIT model and its utility and limitations.
  • Detection: Using the satellite IR “split window” technique, using radar and other remote sensing techniques.
  • Impacts on the aviation system: Knowing the impacts on different aircraft, issuing forecasts, and providing information to decision-makers.
  • Impacts on climate: For both the short and long term.
  • Impacts on society: Knowing the potential health effects, both direct (respiratory, skin) and indirect (roadways, buildings), coordination with emergency responders, and impacts on infrastructure.
  • Impacts to water: Knowing the effects to local watersheds and supplies, maritime operations.