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Heat Wave Smashes Records Across Central US
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Environment & Climate

Heat Wave Smashes Records Across Central US

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Researchers are testing drones equipped with laser sensors to measure volcanic gases and predict eruptions on the Aeolian island of Vulcano.
  • The drone system, developed by the Technical University of Munich, can map gas concentrations by analyzing laser beam reflections.
  • Scientists aim to improve the accuracy and safety of volcanic monitoring, understanding the impact of emissions and anticipating eruptions.

On the volcanic island of Vulcano, off Sicily's coast, scientists are deploying innovative drone technology to monitor the simmering Grand Crater. Researchers from Germany's Technical University of Munich (TUM) are testing drones equipped with laser sensors, designed to measure volcanic gases and potentially predict eruptions. The drones fly behind the gas plume, avoiding corrosive elements that would affect ground-based sensors.

Our drone flies behind the plume and also our ground unit is not in the plume.

— Marius SchaabSchaab, a researcher from the Technical University of Munich, described the operational advantage of their drone system in avoiding corrosive volcanic gases.

Marius Schaab, a researcher from TUM, explained the sensor's function: "Our drone flies behind the plume and also our ground unit is not in the plume." The system works by sending a laser beam through the gas emissions and measuring the reflected light from a reflector, in this case, the drone itself. An algorithm then calculates a map of gas concentrations within minutes.

sending a laser beam through some gas and then onto some reflector that measures the intensity of the driving light

— Marius SchaabSchaab explained the fundamental principle behind the laser sensor technology used for gas measurement.

This advanced monitoring technique aims to enhance the accuracy and safety of volcano surveillance. While drones have been used for volcanic monitoring for about 15 years, the focus is now on developing more precise and risk-free measurement tools. Scientists like Tjarda Roberts from the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Paris, who is collaborating with a team from the University of Mainz, highlight two key reasons for measuring these gases: better understanding the atmospheric impact of eruptions and emissions, and anticipating future eruptions by detecting changes in gas composition.

One reason for measuring gases and particles is to better understand the impact of volcanic eruptions and volcanic emissions on the atmosphere.

— Tjarda RobertsRoberts, a researcher at CNRS, explained one of the primary motivations for monitoring volcanic gases.

The pressure from magma rising from the Earth's interior can increase gas release, providing crucial data for eruption forecasting. The TUM team is testing its drone system, capable of operating at altitudes up to 3,000 meters, on a volcano for the first time. This cutting-edge research on Vulcano, which last erupted in the late 19th century but remains volcanically active, could significantly improve our ability to predict and prepare for volcanic events worldwide.

Another reason is to anticipate volcanic eruptions, because the gas composition can change before an eruption occurs.

— Tjarda RobertsRoberts elaborated on the predictive potential of gas composition analysis in volcanic monitoring.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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