A study on detection of volcanic cloud of the SAKURAJIMA volcano by X-band MP radar observation

Abstract

In accordance with a revision of the Sediment-related Disaster Prevention Act, central or local prefectural governments are responsible for providing information related to possible disaster-affected area/time so that related municipalities can make a proper decision to give evacuation instruction in case some kind of a large-scale sediment-related disaster is imminent. It is therefore necessary that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism makes further enhancement of observation monitoring system so as to understand rainfall and ash fall situation over in particular active volcanoes promptly and accurately. Because of this situation, this study evaluates the ability of X-band MultiParameter radar, which was newly developed and installed at the Sakurajima (one of the most active volcanoes in Japan) area, for detecting volcanic ash from Sakurajima by comparing with the existing C-band radar observation. In this study, we also verify usefulness of various parameters obtained from dual polarization observation by using the X-band MultiParameter radar for detecting volcanic ash, as well as consider possible utilization of the parameters for monitoring volcanic ash and challenges to be solved.