Abstract. Space-based, operational instruments are in unique positions to monitor volcanic activity globally, especially in remote locations or where suborbital observing conditions are hazardous. The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) provides hyper-stereo imagery, from which the altitude and microphysical properties of suspended atmospheric aerosols can be derived. These capabilities are applied to plumes emitted at Karymsky volcano from 2000 to 2017. Plumes from Karymsky were predominantly emitted to an altitude of 2–4 km, with occasional events exceeding 6 km. MISR plume observations were most common when volcanic surface manifestations were high, such as lava flows identified by satellite-based thermal anomaly detection. The plumes contained large, strongly absorbing particles indicative of ash-rich eruptions. Differences between the retrievals for Karymsky volcano's ash-rich plumes and the sulfur-rich plumes from the 2014–2015 eruption of Bárðarbunga (Iceland) highlight the ability of MISR to distinguish particle types from such events. Plumes emitted at Karymsky prior to 2010 contain the sulfate proxy. After 2011, plumes contain similar particle components, but with varying fractions of absorption linked to timing within respective eruption phases. From the 1.1 km spatial-resolution retrievals within 30–220 km plumes, particle fallout, physical aggregation, and chemical evolution are indicated by the particle property variations observed downwind. In addition, changes in plume properties retrieved from the remote-sensing observations over time are interpreted in terms of activity cycles within the volcano itself, corroborated to the extent possible with suborbital data.
Supplementary material to "Tracking microphysical variations in emissions from Karymsky
volcano using MISR multi-angle imagery, and implications for
volcano geologic interpretation"