Eric Hughes and Wilfrid Schroeder et al. developed the project “Real-time Automatic Estimation of Volcanic Ash Cloud Heights” which has been unanimously approved for implementation by The NESDIS Satellite Products and Services Review Board (SPSRB). The project employs an iterative technique that compares satellite observations of volcanic SO2 and Aerosol Index from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (used as a proxy for volcanic ash) with numerical modeling computations from the volcanic ash dispersion model PUFF, to derive volcanic ash heights and vertical profiles. This product is scheduled to be delivered by the end of September, becoming an official tool of the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center at Washington D.C.
