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[MTT38-02] An Evaluation Methodology for The Effectiveness of Radar Multi-Sensing
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Volcano, Plume, Marine Radar
The ejection of pyroclastic materials during volcanic eruptions poses a direct threat to surrounding areas due to their scattering around the crater. The presence of rising volcanic clouds can restrict the safe operation of aircraft, while ash falling to the ground can cause various problems for the lives of local people. Therefore, monitoring of pyroclastic materials is necessary for the prevention of volcanic disasters. In recent years, radar observations have been conducted, as they are less affected by visibility conditions than surveillance cameras [1]. Radar observations primarily utilize two scanning methods: the Plan Position Indicator (PPI) scanning method, which rotates the azimuth angle of the antenna, and the Range Height Indicator (RHI) scanning method, which rotates the elevation angle. A marine radar tilted at 90 degrees has also been proposed for RHI scanning at short intervals [2]. In order to effectively observe volcanic plumes, it is important to set up the radar and the scanning method. While extant studies on optimal radar deployment have predominantly focused on maximizing coverage through the implementation of PPI scanning on weather radars [3], in the context of volcanic plume observation, the temporal resolution of the radar plays a pivotal role in monitoring volcanic rocks and the spatial resolution is imperative for the accurate determination of the distribution of ash fall.
We developed a radar multi-sensing simulator to calculate an index that considers various radar characteristics, including sensitivity and spatial resolution, as well as the radar's coverage area. The simulator supports both PPI scanning and RHI scanning using marine radar. It divides the target observation area into a grid of equal latitude and longitude intervals and calculates visibility, sensitivity, spatial resolution, temporal resolution, etc. for each point. The simulator then calculates the area ratio of the area that meets the threshold conditions set by the user for each characteristic. Finally, the weighted average of the calculated area ratios is used as an indicator of the effectiveness of the volcanic cloud monitoring capability (VCMP).
To illustrate the application of the radar multi-sensing simulator, a case study was conducted in which an observation network combining multiple marine radars and operational meteorological radars was investigated. The VCMP was evaluated according to the location and installation method of the radar, with the volcanic plume of Sakurajima serving as the observation target (see attached figure for example of the coverage area when observing Minami-dake on Mt. Sakurajima using nine marine radars and one meteorological radar). The incorporation of quantitative indices derived from the simulator enabled an assessment of the installation location, scan settings, and other parameters, thereby facilitating the design of effective radar observation networks.
Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the collaborative research program (2023GC-02) of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute of Kyoto University and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 22K03760.
References:
[1] F. S. Marzano, E. Picciotti, M. Montopoli and G. Vulpiani, "Inside volcanic clouds: remote sensing of ash plumes using microwave weather radars", Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, vol. 94, no. 10, pp. 1567-1586, 2013
[2] M. Maki, T. Kobori, T. Nishi, Y. Fujiyoshi, H. Tokushima, E. Sato, M. Iguchi, K. Tameguri, "Monitoring of Sakurajima volcanic eruption columns with marine radar: Results of observations in 2018", DPRI Annuals, Vol. 63 B, pp. 136-148, 2020 (in Japanese)
[3] R. Minciardi, R. Sacile, F. Siccardi, "Optimal planning of a weather radar network", Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Vo. 20, pp. 1251–1263, 2003
We developed a radar multi-sensing simulator to calculate an index that considers various radar characteristics, including sensitivity and spatial resolution, as well as the radar's coverage area. The simulator supports both PPI scanning and RHI scanning using marine radar. It divides the target observation area into a grid of equal latitude and longitude intervals and calculates visibility, sensitivity, spatial resolution, temporal resolution, etc. for each point. The simulator then calculates the area ratio of the area that meets the threshold conditions set by the user for each characteristic. Finally, the weighted average of the calculated area ratios is used as an indicator of the effectiveness of the volcanic cloud monitoring capability (VCMP).
To illustrate the application of the radar multi-sensing simulator, a case study was conducted in which an observation network combining multiple marine radars and operational meteorological radars was investigated. The VCMP was evaluated according to the location and installation method of the radar, with the volcanic plume of Sakurajima serving as the observation target (see attached figure for example of the coverage area when observing Minami-dake on Mt. Sakurajima using nine marine radars and one meteorological radar). The incorporation of quantitative indices derived from the simulator enabled an assessment of the installation location, scan settings, and other parameters, thereby facilitating the design of effective radar observation networks.
Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the collaborative research program (2023GC-02) of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute of Kyoto University and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 22K03760.
References:
[1] F. S. Marzano, E. Picciotti, M. Montopoli and G. Vulpiani, "Inside volcanic clouds: remote sensing of ash plumes using microwave weather radars", Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, vol. 94, no. 10, pp. 1567-1586, 2013
[2] M. Maki, T. Kobori, T. Nishi, Y. Fujiyoshi, H. Tokushima, E. Sato, M. Iguchi, K. Tameguri, "Monitoring of Sakurajima volcanic eruption columns with marine radar: Results of observations in 2018", DPRI Annuals, Vol. 63 B, pp. 136-148, 2020 (in Japanese)
[3] R. Minciardi, R. Sacile, F. Siccardi, "Optimal planning of a weather radar network", Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Vo. 20, pp. 1251–1263, 2003