Unmanned aerial sampling of a volcanic ash cloud

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1994

Department

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Abstract

On September 17, 1992, Alaska's Mount Spurr erupted for the third time in 12 weeks. The eruption cloud drifted east and south across Canada and reentered U.S. airspace over the upper midwest (Figure 1). By the morning of September 20, the cloud had moved northeast out of U.S. domestic air corridors and had begun to disperse. Canadian aviators were advised of thecloud position by Transport Canada, and no damaging encounters with ash occurred. But upon reentering U.S. airspace, the cloud had a major impact on air traffic despite the 4000‐km distance from the volcano.

Publication Title

Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union

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