Lava flow daily monitoring: the case of the 19 September–5 October 2022 eruption at Piton de la Fournaise

Abstract

Taking prompt and effective actions to mitigate risks associated with an effusive eruption greatly depends on the monitoring of lava flow emplacement. Here we report on the monitoring of the lava flow emplaced during the 19 September to 05 October 2022 eruption at Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion) that involves an unprecedentedly large data set acquired using multiple techniques and sensors. These include aerial photogrammetry to construct digital surface models and define lava flow geometry during and after emplacement. Complementary use of multiple satellite sensors (visible, infrared, and radar) allowed lava flow field contour definition and an estimation of time-averaged discharge rate with daily frequency. Evolution of the eruptive cone morphology was also monitored through aerial photogrammetry and radar multi-viewing angle imagery. This combination of data obtained from several institutes and using various techniques—from ground, air and space—allowed detailed tracking of lava flow advance and serves as an example for future eruptions at Piton de La Fournaise and at other active volcanic sites.

Automatic Estimation of Daily Volcanic Sulfur Dioxide Gas Flux From TROPOMI Satellite Observations: Application to Etna and Piton de la Fournaise

“…This progressive increase in SO 2 flux coincides with a coeval rise in seismic energy, until both signals drop abruptly on 5 October 2022, when the eruption ceases. The same pattern is also apparent in time-averaged discharge rates reported independently by the MIROVA and HOTVOLC services using MODIS, VIIRS, and MSG-SEVIRI data (see Figure S9 in Supporting Information S1, adapted from Chevrel et al, 2023). This eruption occurred during a period of exceptionally dry weather, with a cloud cover <25% for most of the eruption (blue symbols in Figure 5b), October 2022 being the driest October since the first measurements at La Réunion in 1972 (Météo-France, 2022b).…”

“…Figure S9 in Supporting Information S1, adapted from Chevrel et al (2023), shows products derived from the MIROVA service (Campus et al, 2022;Coppola et al, 2016) and the HOTVOLC service (Gouhier et al, 2016).…”

Automatic identification and quantification of volcanic hotspots in Alaska using HotLINK: the hotspot learning and identification network

“…Therefore, monitoring changes in hotspot activity can provide key insights into a volcano's behavior by indicating the presence of thermal volcanic features and characterizing them over time. Due to the utility of these observations, thermal satellite data are used by volcano observatories as part of their daily monitoring operations (Dehn et al, 2000;Dehn et al, 2002;Harris et al, 2016;Harris et al, 2017;Cameron et al, 2018;Coombs et al, 2018;Coppola et al, 2020;Pritchard et al, 2022;Chevrel et al, 2023). Automating the detection and quantification of volcanic hotspots can provide near-real time information to volcano observatory scientists to inform decision-making and provide a mechanism to generate long time series of thermal activity for volcanoes around the world.…”

“…Automating the detection and quantification of volcanic hotspots can provide near-real time information to volcano observatory scientists to inform decision-making and provide a mechanism to generate long time series of thermal activity for volcanoes around the world. Time series observations are useful for determining baseline activity, identifying periods of volcanic unrest, characterizing the thermal evolution of ongoing eruptions, and retrospectively studying eruptive histories and processes (Dehn et al, 2002;Wright, 2016;Girona et al, 2021;Chevrel et al, 2023;Coppola et al, 2023).…”