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The aim of this paper is to show the feasibility of evaluating the sulphur dioxide (SO[SUB2]) flux emitted by Mt Etna volcano, using remotely sensed data of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection radiometer (ASTER) in the thermal infrared (TIR). ASTER is one of the instruments on board the first Earth Observation System (EOS) satellite launched on 18 December 1999. To simulate the ASTER data, Multispectral Infrared and Visible Imaging Spectrometer (MIVIS) images, acquired during the 'Sicily '97' campaign, were used. The SO[SUB2] column abundance maps shown in this paper have been obtained by means of a simple algorithm based on the split-window technique. The parameters of the algorithm were computed using Moderate Resolution Atmospheric Radiance and Transmittance Model (MODTRAN) simulations performed with atmospheric profiles acquired during MIVIS flights. The mean SO[SUB2] flux on 12 and 16 June 1997, obtained using the ASTER simulated images,results in 42 and 33 kg s[SUP-1] respectively; these values are in good agreement with the results obtained by the inversion procedure used by Teggi et al. (1999) applied to the MIVIS data and with the Correlation Spectrometer (COSPEC) measurements performed during the campaign by other teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with terrestrial long-range laser scanner applications, gives an overview of topics related to this methodology, provides real and tested information about laser scanners, and analyses the reflectance of different materials. After positive results obtained during an experimental test executed in Bologna (Italy) on March 2005, the INGV (Bologna, Italy) and CODEVINTEC srl (Milan, Italy) planned a mission over the Mount Vesuvius volcano (Naples, Italy). For the first time, a wide crater area composed of low reflectivity materials was completely surveyed, creating a very accurate digital surface model. In this work, a long-range laser scanner was used to create high-precision surveys that demonstrated very low residual values in scan comparisons. The results lead to the conclusion that this methodology is suitable for surface monitoring proposals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]