**************************** NEW Merapi Volcano Imaging **************************** From: Michael Ramsey <mramsey+@xxxxxxxx> The ASTER sensor has continued observing the increasing volcanic activity at Merapi Volcano, Indonesia. A night time shortwave infrared (SWIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) set of images were captured at 15:10 UTC time on the 14th of May. Compared to previous ASTER images, the data show a much more significant thermal anomaly including saturation in the TIR wavelengths and detectable emissions down to 1.65 microns (ASTER band 4). Also present is an elongated thermal anomaly (max of ~ 40 C) extending to the SW of the summit 1.7 km, presumably from the start of larger pyroclastic flows. The maximum surface temperature measured at the summit dome is now 442 C over 3 SWIR pixels (30 m). This is a significant increase from a max of 213 C detected just two days prior. The presence of the PF deposit and the marked increase in temperatures at the summit is evidence that dome collapse has and is continuing to occur, giving rise to the PF and exposing much higher temperatures over portions of the dome that have broken away. Two new images have been posted at the IVIS website and are located here: http://ivis.eps.pitt.edu/data/merapi/ SWIR and TIR derived temperatures have been contoured and placed on the daytime VNIR image from 12 May. For comparison, note the differences in the following images: http://ivis.eps.pitt.edu/data/merapi/12May06.pdf http://ivis.eps.pitt.edu/data/merapi/051406_TC.pdf ASTER will continue to observe the crisis in Indonesia. The next daytime images are scheduled for 19 May and 21 May, with a full VNIR-SWIR-TIR pass scheduled for 28 May. For more information on ASTER, please see the NASA website here: http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/ -- Mike ============================================================== To unsubscribe from the volcano list, send the message: signoff volcano to: listserv@xxxxxxx, or write to: volcano-request@xxxxxxxx To contribute to the volcano list, send your message to: volcano@xxxxxxxx Please do not send attachments. ==============================================================
