Advanced satellite technique for volcanic activity monitoring and early warning

Nowadays, satellite remote sensing is an important tool for volcanic activity monitoring, thanks to several operational
satellite platforms providing data everywhere with high observational frequencies and generally at low
cost. Among different techniques available, an advanced satellite method, named RST (Robust Satellite Technique),
based on the multitemporal analysis of satellite data, has shown a high capability in volcanic activity
monitoring. This approach has proved capable of identifying and tracking volcanic ash cloud and of correctly
detecting and monitoring volcanic thermal anomalies. This paper analyzes some recent results, obtained applying
this approach to the last eruptive events of Mt. Etna using both polar and geostationary satellites. In particular,
for the first time, this approach is implemented on the present geostationary platform MSG-SEVIRI, with
15 min of temporal resolution. Preliminary results, together with a future potential of this implementation, are
shown and discussed. Moreover, a differential RST index in time domain is also proposed for near real-time application,
as a possible contribution to the development of an efficient early warning satellite system for volcanic
hazard mitigation.

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