Thermal Monitoring of Eyjafjoll Volcano Eruptions by Means of Infrared MODIS Data

In the evening of 20 March 2010, after about two centuries of quiescence, an effusive eruption took place at Eyjafjoll (Iceland) volcano, from a small vent localized on the northeast flank (Fimmvorduhals Pass) of the volcano edifice. On 31 March, a new eruptive fissure opened on the same region emitting lava. About 2 weeks later, on 14 April, a strong explosive eruption took place under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, injecting copious amounts of ash in the atmosphere and causing an unprecedented air traffic disruption in Northern and Central Europe. In this paper, the changes in thermal signals occurring at Eyjafjoll volcano during I March 20,April 2010 are investigated, testing the RSTVOLC algorithm for the first time in a subpolar environment. Outcomes of this retrospective study, performed by means of infrared Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODES) data, show that both effusive and explosive eruptions of the Eyjafjoll volcano could be identified in a timely manner and well monitored from space. Moreover, in spite of a lack of pre-eruptive hot spots detection, this paper reveals a general increasing trend of the middle infrared signal at crater area, beginning 2 weeks before the explosion, stimulating and suggesting further investigations devoted to better characterize the thermal behavior of the monitored volcano.