Satellite imagery for volcanic hazards mitigation

As world population and urbanization increase, volcanoes pose an ever greater hazard to life, property, and infrastructure in volcanically active regions. The rise in air traffic world-wide increases the risk of encounters between airborne ash and aircraft, even at great distances from the source. The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), an international association of civilian space agencies, seeks to foster cooperation to increase the usefulness and accessibility of satellite imagery. In February 1997, CEOs initiated the Disaster Management Support Project to assess the present and potential use of satellite-derived information for the mitigation of several hazards, including volcanic hazards. Radar methods are discussed.