In situ volcanic ash sampling and aerosol–gas analysis based on UAS technologies (AeroVolc)
<p>Volcanic degassing and explosive eruptions inject significant amounts of gas and ash into the atmosphere, impacting the local environment and atmospheric dynamics from local to global scales. While ground- and satellite-based remote-sensing systems are key to describing explosive volcanism...
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Copernicus Publications
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/18/2803/2025/amt-18-2803-2025.pdf |
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| author | S. Thivet G. Bagheri P. M. Kornatowski P. M. Kornatowski A. Fries J. Lemus J. Lemus R. Simionato R. Simionato C. Díaz-Vecino E. Rossi T. Yamada S. Scollo C. Bonadonna |
| author_facet | S. Thivet G. Bagheri P. M. Kornatowski P. M. Kornatowski A. Fries J. Lemus J. Lemus R. Simionato R. Simionato C. Díaz-Vecino E. Rossi T. Yamada S. Scollo C. Bonadonna |
| author_sort | S. Thivet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Volcanic degassing and explosive eruptions inject significant amounts of gas and ash into the atmosphere, impacting the local environment and atmospheric dynamics from local to global scales. While ground- and satellite-based remote-sensing systems are key to describing explosive volcanism and assessing associated hazards, direct in situ measurements inside volcanic clouds are not possible with these methods. This study presents an innovative approach using an unoccupied aircraft system (UAS) for (i) airborne ash sampling and (ii) measurements of aerosol and gas concentrations (AeroVolc system). Commercial instruments (DJI™ Matrice 30 UAV, Alphasense™ N3 optical particle counter, and Soarability™ Sniffer4D Mini2 multigas hardware) were combined with custom-built ash collectors and particle counters to enable a more detailed analysis of volcanic clouds. Here, we showcase the deployment of our UAS on Sakurajima (Japan) and Etna (Italy), two volcanoes known for their frequent explosive eruptions and persistent degassing activity, to demonstrate how this approach enables in situ, high-resolution sample and data collection within challenging environments. Results provide grain size distributions (GSDs), information on the occurrence of particle aggregation, and solid aerosol (PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>1</sub></span>, PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2.5</sub></span>, and PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>10</sub></span>, corresponding to solid aerosol particles with a diameter of less than 1, 2.5, and 10 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>m, respectively) and gas (SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> and CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>) concentrations. Depending on whether the UAS was operated within or below ash- and/or gas-rich clouds, different insights were gained that open up new perspectives for volcanological research. These insights include the composition, concentration, generation, dispersion, and sedimentation patterns of volcanic clouds.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9571d7f98ef84dd1be96fb7ffeecf7f1 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| spelling | doaj-art-9571d7f98ef84dd1be96fb7ffeecf7f12025-07-01T04:20:25ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482025-07-01182803282410.5194/amt-18-2803-2025In situ volcanic ash sampling and aerosol–gas analysis based on UAS technologies (AeroVolc)S. Thivet0G. Bagheri1P. M. Kornatowski2P. M. Kornatowski3A. Fries4J. Lemus5J. Lemus6R. Simionato7R. Simionato8C. Díaz-Vecino9E. Rossi10T. Yamada11S. Scollo12C. Bonadonna13Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandMax Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, GermanyInstitute of Aeronautics and Applied Mechanisms, Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, PolandKornatowski Innovation, Ecublens, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Computer Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Computer Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandResearch Center for Volcano Hazards Mitigation, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kagoshima, JapanIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Etneo, Catania, ItalyDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland<p>Volcanic degassing and explosive eruptions inject significant amounts of gas and ash into the atmosphere, impacting the local environment and atmospheric dynamics from local to global scales. While ground- and satellite-based remote-sensing systems are key to describing explosive volcanism and assessing associated hazards, direct in situ measurements inside volcanic clouds are not possible with these methods. This study presents an innovative approach using an unoccupied aircraft system (UAS) for (i) airborne ash sampling and (ii) measurements of aerosol and gas concentrations (AeroVolc system). Commercial instruments (DJI™ Matrice 30 UAV, Alphasense™ N3 optical particle counter, and Soarability™ Sniffer4D Mini2 multigas hardware) were combined with custom-built ash collectors and particle counters to enable a more detailed analysis of volcanic clouds. Here, we showcase the deployment of our UAS on Sakurajima (Japan) and Etna (Italy), two volcanoes known for their frequent explosive eruptions and persistent degassing activity, to demonstrate how this approach enables in situ, high-resolution sample and data collection within challenging environments. Results provide grain size distributions (GSDs), information on the occurrence of particle aggregation, and solid aerosol (PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>1</sub></span>, PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2.5</sub></span>, and PM<span class="inline-formula"><sub>10</sub></span>, corresponding to solid aerosol particles with a diameter of less than 1, 2.5, and 10 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>m, respectively) and gas (SO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> and CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>) concentrations. Depending on whether the UAS was operated within or below ash- and/or gas-rich clouds, different insights were gained that open up new perspectives for volcanological research. These insights include the composition, concentration, generation, dispersion, and sedimentation patterns of volcanic clouds.</p>https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/18/2803/2025/amt-18-2803-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | S. Thivet G. Bagheri P. M. Kornatowski P. M. Kornatowski A. Fries J. Lemus J. Lemus R. Simionato R. Simionato C. Díaz-Vecino E. Rossi T. Yamada S. Scollo C. Bonadonna In situ volcanic ash sampling and aerosol–gas analysis based on UAS technologies (AeroVolc) Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| title | In situ volcanic ash sampling and aerosol–gas analysis based on UAS technologies (AeroVolc) |
| title_full | In situ volcanic ash sampling and aerosol–gas analysis based on UAS technologies (AeroVolc) |
| title_fullStr | In situ volcanic ash sampling and aerosol–gas analysis based on UAS technologies (AeroVolc) |
| title_full_unstemmed | In situ volcanic ash sampling and aerosol–gas analysis based on UAS technologies (AeroVolc) |
| title_short | In situ volcanic ash sampling and aerosol–gas analysis based on UAS technologies (AeroVolc) |
| title_sort | in situ volcanic ash sampling and aerosol gas analysis based on uas technologies aerovolc |
| url | https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/18/2803/2025/amt-18-2803-2025.pdf |
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