SATELLITE-OBSERVATIONS OF THE APRIL 1993 ERUPTION OF LASCAR VOLCANO

The largest historic eruption of the Lascar volcano, Chile, occurred d uring April 1993. The eruption lasted two days, producing pyroclastic flows, covering an 18.5 km(2) area, and a major ash plume, leading to widespread ash-fall. Here we demonstrate how combined observations fro m the Japanese Earth Observation (JERS-1) and the National Oceanograph ic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites were used to docum ent this eruption. These two satellite platforms provide complementary data, giving high resolution spatial (JERS-1), spectral (JERS-1) and temporal information (NOAA). Such an integrated remote sensing approac h offers a valuable means of easily and safely monitoring large, dange rous, volcanic eruptions and post eruption processes.