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Federal Government Applications of UAS Technology
Published in J.B. Sharma, Applications of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, 2019
Researchers have been using remote-sensing systems, primarily satellites and manned aircraft, for many years to monitor volcanoes. These studies have included using thermal imagery from helicopters and satellites to monitor lava flows (Patrick et al. 2017; Patrick et al. 2016; Wright et al. 2008) to integrating satellite data and models for quantitative hazard assessment (Del Negro et al. 2016). Satellite data have also been used to measure elevation changes over time caused by lava flows by comparing digital elevation models (Poland 2014). Using UAS to monitor and collect data over volcanoes is a safe, low-cost option being explored by many organizations. During the October 2004 eruption of Mount St Helens, volcanologists at the USGS accelerated the level of monitoring using a variety of ground-based sensors deployed in and on the flanks of the volcano using manned helicopters. They also developed additional unmanned sensing methods that could be used in potentially hazardous and low visibility conditions, which resulted in a UAS experiment being conducted during the ongoing eruption early in November 2004. The UAS was flown over and inside the crater to perform routine observation and data gathering, as well as to demonstrate whether UAS technology could collect real-time data at a reduced risk to scientists (Patterson et al. 2005).
Global navigation satellite systems
Published in Francis Lyall, Paul B. Larsen, Space Law, 2017
Global navigation satellite systems are space-based positioning and navigation systems designed to provide worldwide, all weather, three-dimensional position, velocity and timing data.4 Originally designed for military purposes, they are now also used for many civilian purposes including the navigation and positioning of aeroplanes,5 ships, trains, cars and the fleet management of trucks.6 Fishermen, farmers, surveyors and hikers use the systems.7They can be used to track individuals,8 including children and Alzheimer sufferers,9 as well as criminal offenders,10 and questions of human rights and privacy can therefore arise.11 Through monitoring relatively small changes in altitude they can be used to monitor volcanic areas, and even to predict eruptions.12 The technology is also used to synchronise telecommunications, power grids and similar systems.13 GNSS is even used to time-stamp contractual agreements, which can be crucial, for example, in currency and other financial transactions where split-seconds may be important.14 In short, much of the working of the modern world is dependent on GNSS signals.
Environmental Health Emergencies, Disasters, and Terrorism
Published in Herman Koren, Best Practices for Environmental Health, 2017
A volcano is an opening or vent in the Earth’s upper mantle which allows magma and gases produced by the melting of rock below the surface to be discharged. The volcanic eruption is caused by the buoyancy of the magma, the pressure of the gases, and new magma being injected into a chamber which is already full of existing magma. (See endnote 25.) Volcanoes may produce ash, toxic gases, flash floods of hot water and debris, lava flows, and fast-moving flows of hot gases and debris resulting in death by suffocation, infectious disease, respiratory illness, burns, injury from falling, etc. Volcanic ash is gritty, abrasive, corrosive, slippery, and may cause injury or exacerbate chronic conditions in individuals who have existing lung and heart diseases as well as harm infants, the elderly, the infirm, and those with impaired immune systems. The gases, primarily carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, are found in low-lying areas, and in large concentrations can injure and kill people. At low levels they are very irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat and can cause rapid breathing, headaches, dizziness, and spasms of the throat. (See endnote 26.)
An initial assessment of short-term eruption forecasting options in New Zealand
Published in New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 2022
Melody G. Whitehead, Mark S. Bebbington, Jonathan N. Procter, Matthew E. Irwin, Graham Paul D. Viskovic
The twelve volcanoes are continuously monitored via a variety of sensor types from seismometers to cameras, and data from permanent monitoring stations are supplemented by (monthly to sporadic) field campaigns (ESM 2). Due to the proximity of some volcanoes, a specific monitoring station may capture useable data for multiple volcanoes; this is common within the Taupō Volcanic Zone (Figure 1D). To assess method requirements against a volcano-monitoring network, assumptions must be made around whether a monitoring station may provide data of sufficient quality and quantity during unrest; these are explicitly stated within the following text where assumed. High density monitoring array to observe an acceleratory signal
Reactive astrogliosis in the dentate gyrus of mice exposed to active volcanic environments
Published in Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 2021
A. Navarro, M. García, A.S. Rodrigues, P.V. Garcia, R. Camarinho, Y. Segovia
There are currently numerous human settlements in the vicinities of volcanoes attributed to some benefits obtained from volcanic activity such as the richness of soil nutrients or tourist attractions. The Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean, the island arc systems of Southeast Asia, the Azorean, and the Hawaiian oceanic archipelagos are some examples of these human settlements (Small and Naumann 2001). Various investigators reported that the health of people residing close to an active volcano is threatened by the particular environmental characteristics of volcanism (Amaral and Rodrigues 2011; Durand and Grattan 2001; Hansell, Horwell, and Oppenheimer 2006; Hansell and Oppenheimer 2004; Horwell 2007; Weinstein, Horwell, and Cook 2013). Usually, the communities concern is mainly focused on those threats arising from the volcano explosive activity; however, little is known regarding the disrupting biological effects of toxic gases or particulate matter (PM) released by the volcanic systems, not only during an eruption episode but also through fumarolic fields and soil degasification during the volcano quiescent phases. Due to the growing awareness regarding human health effects from chronic exposure to degassing volcanic activity, some investigators identified hydrothermal regions like the Azores islands (Amaral and Rodrigues 2007; Linhares et al. 2015; Rodrigues, Arruda, and Garcia 2012), Miyakejima Island (Ishigami et al. 2008; Iwasawa et al. 2015), Hawaii (Tam et al. 2016), Iceland (Kristbjornsdottir and Rafnsson 2012) and New Zealand (Bates et al. 2015).
Planning to adapt: identifying key decision drivers in disaster response planning
Published in Civil Engineering and Environmental Systems, 2021
Charlotte O. Brown, Josh L. Hayes, Mark W. Milke
There are additional volcanic hazards that can occur during an eruption that are typically more destructive than volcanic ash (e.g. lahar, pyroclastic density currents, lava, volcanic ballistics). These hazards are likely to damage the built environment (e.g. building collapse, bridge failure) (Wilson et al. 2014; Jenkins et al. 2015), meaning the clean-up problem becomes much more involved than collecting and managing ash. Fires can also be induced by hot volcanic deposits or lava, as was observed in Heimaey, Iceland during the 1973 Heimaey eruption (Williams and Moore 1983) and more recently in Hawaii as a result of the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea (U.S. Department of the Interior Strategic Sciences Group 2019). Therefore, the presence of these hazards indicates that the waste stream will be highly mixed and will require a considerably different response than for volcanic ash alone. This raises additional considerations such as whether waste should be recycled or whether it is safe for the public to handle wastes. Therefore, where these hazards are likely to occur, indicators such as those described in the previous section would further enhance the ability to plan for these extreme volcanic events.