Using the Landsat Thematic Mapper to detect and monitor active volcanoes: An example from Lascar volcano, northern Chile

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 1987 Using the Landsat Thematic Mapper to detect and monitor active volcanoes: An example from Lascar volcano, northern Chile P. W. Francis; P. W. Francis 1Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3303 NASA Road 1, Houston, Texas 77058 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. A. Rothery D. A. Rothery 2Department of Earth Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, England Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information P. W. Francis 1Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3303 NASA Road 1, Houston, Texas 77058 D. A. Rothery 2Department of Earth Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, England Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1987) 15 (7): 614–617. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<614:UTLTMT>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation P. W. Francis, D. A. Rothery; Using the Landsat Thematic Mapper to detect and monitor active volcanoes: An example from Lascar volcano, northern Chile. Geology 1987;; 15 (7): 614–617. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<614:UTLTMT>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) offers a means of detecting and monitoring thermal features of active volcanoes. Using the TM, we have discovered a prominent thermal anomaly on Lascar volcano, northern Chile. Data from two short-wavelength infrared channels of the TM show that material within a 300-m-diameter pit crater was at a temperature of at least 380 °C on two dates in 1985. The thermal anomaly closely resembles in size and radiant temperature the anomaly over the active lava lake at Erta'ale in Ethiopia. An eruption took place at Lascar on September 16, 1986. TM data acquired on October 27, 1986, revealed significant changes within the crater area. We find that Lascar is in a much more active state than any other volcano in the central Andes, and for this reason it merits further careful monitoring. Our studies show that the TM is capable of confidently identifying thermal anomalies less than 100 m in size, at temperatures of above 150 °C, and thus it offers a valuable means of monitoring the conditions of active or potentially active volcanoes, particularly those in remote regions. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

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