VDART (Volcanic Dosage And Risk Tool)

VDART is an interactive web-tool developed by the University of Reading that can be used to demonstrate a risk-based approach to flight planning. The tool can be accessed freely from here.

HYSPLIT (HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory)

HYSPLIT is a Lagrangian disperion model frequently used for the tracking the dispersion and desposition of atmospheric particles such as desert dust, volcanic ash, sulphate aerosols and pollutants. The trajectory model is free and can be run using NOAA’s online tool.

Worldview (NASA)

NASA’s Worldview web-tool can be used to view historical and near-real time satellite data (2000-present) from sensors such as MODIS, VIIRS, AIRS and CALIPSO. The AIRS data features Dr Fred Prata’s SO₂ retrieval algorithm that can be used to detect upper troposphere lower stratosphere (UTLS) SO₂ emissions from explosive volcanic eruptions.

CALIPSO browse images (NASA)

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite carries a dual polarisation lidar useful for measuring the vertical profile of clouds and aerosols. The CALIPSO browse images can be viewed here

SACS (Support to Aviation Control Service)

The SACS near-real time warning service (hosted by the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy) can be used to monitor volcanic SO2 and ash emissions from several polar orbiting satellite sensors. These inlucde OMI, OMPS, GOME-2, IASI and AIRS.

Earth

Earth is an interactive web-tool that provides beautiful visualisations of global atmospheric winds patterns. The data provide near-real time analysis and forecast data provided by the Global Forecast System (GFS; NOAA).