AIRS Rapid Response for Ambae Eruption 

In March 2018, multiple eruptions from the locally named "Manaro" volcano on the Ambae (Aoba) Island in Vanuatu led to the evacuations of thousands of people. Individuals were affected by the disposition of thick volcanic ash layers on the ground which contaminated water and food supplies for the island’s nearly 11,000 inhabitants. 

Data products from the AIRS Rapid Response website show signals of sulfur dioxide emitted from Ambae volcano. The AIRS Rapid Response products may be used to track the dispersion of sulfur dioxide (Image 1) and ash clouds (Image 2) following an explosive volcanic eruption. The cloud cover product (Image 3) is an aid to interpreting the SO2 and ash detection products. The cloud cover was dense, with a tropical cyclone developing off the coast of Australia. The apparent lack of ash, relative to the presence of sulfur dioxide, suggests that much of the ash produced by the eruption was below the altitude of the cloud deck. 


For more information: 
https://disasters.nasa.gov/aoba-ambae-volcano-eruption-vanuatu 

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