Detecting Sulphur dioxide in the Albertine Region.

Abstract

The concept of monitoring sulfur dioxide (SO2) and other gaseous pollutants from satellites using remote sensing in ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) spectral bands was suggested long before satellite instruments capable of such measurements were launched (Barringer & Davies, 1977). Monitoring the rate of emission and composition of volcanic gas suggests the magma characteristics beneath the volcano (Casadevall, et al., 1983). A method described for estimating the two-dimensional spatial distribution of volcanic SO2 using thermal infrared image data acquired by the Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER). Another method to estimate wind velocity and plume height using an along-track stereoscopic pair images using along-track direction (Minoru, 2004). Radiosonde data was used for estimating the atmospheric profile parameters. In this study, ASTER imagery was used to detect Sulphur dioxide in the geothermal areas of the Albertine Rift as a cost-effective method, safe and covers a wide area.