A comparison of SO retrieval techniques using mini-UV spectrometers and ASTER imagery at Lascar volcano, Chile.

The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is a useful tool for detecting low quantities of sulfur dioxide at passively degassing volcanoes such as Lascar volcano, Chile. Two mini-UV spectrometers (MUSes) were used to make transects of Lascar volcano's sulfur dioxide plume on December 7, 2004, during a coordinated overpass of ASTER. SO burdens were retrieved using the thermal infrared channels of the acquired ASTER image. This allowed for a direct comparison between the two methods in order to validate the ASTER SO retrieval. The results were extremely encouraging with ASTER deriving SO fluxes within the range of fluxes obtained by the MUSe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]