Volcanic Cloud Top Height Estimation Using the Plume Elevation Model Procedure Applied to Orthorectified Landsat 8 Data. Test Case: 26 October 2013 Mt. Etna Eruption

In this study, we present a method for extracting the volcanic cloud top height (VCTH) as a
plume elevation model (PEM) from orthorectified Landsat 8 data (Level 1). A similar methodology
was previously applied to raw Landsat-8 data (Level 0). But level 0 data are not the standard
product provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/United States
Geological Survey (USGS). Level 0 data are available only on demand and consist on 14 data stripes
multiplied by the number of multispectral bands. The standard product for Landsat 8 is the ortho
image, available free of charge for end-users. Therefore, there is the need to adapt our previous
methodology to Level 1 Landsat data. The advantages of using the standard Landsat products
instead of raw data mainly include the fast -ready to use- availability of the data and free access to
registered users, which is of major importance during volcanic crises. In this study, we adapt the
PEM methodology to the standard Landsat-8 products, with the aim of simplifying the procedure
for routine monitoring, offering an opportunity to produce PEM maps. In this study, we present
the method. Our approach is applied to the 26 October 2013 Mt. Etna episodes comparing results
independent VCTH measures from the spinning enhanced visible and infrared imager (SEVIRI) and
the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS).