Characterization of Volcanic Plumes by Remote Sensing Sensors: An Example from Etna Volcano

During explosive eruptions, a great amount of volcanic particles is ejected into the atmosphere, causing hazards to people living near active volcanoes and to aviation operations. However, in the last years, we have observed a growing use of remote sensing systems to monitor volcanoes, which has led to a prompter response to authorities and the local population during crises. In this work, we show how different sensors can help to better characterize the dynamics of lava fountains. We focus on the event occurring at Mt. Etna, in Italy, on 21 September 2021. We analyze images from thermal and visible cameras, satellite data and radar data and estimate the main eruption source parameters. These are then used to run a model able to estimate the tephra fallout deposit aimed at improving the quantification of the impact of this lava fountain.