User:Dean

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Ken's Page

Kenneson G. Dean is group leader of the Earth and Planetary Remote Sensing Group at the Geophysical Institute. His interests are primarily studies of active surficial processes and landforms using satellite data. Present projects are focused on volcanic eruptions in the North Pacific Region, development of the Puff dispersion model, and the High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) project.

Ken leads the satellite-monitoring group for the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) project in Fairbanks. Research objectives include dynamics, spectral properties and composition of eruption clouds; the dynamics and sources of thermal anomalies; and changes in surface landforms caused by eruptions. Satellite data are used to detect, monitor and analyze potential airborne and surface hazards resulting from volcanic eruptions, including volcanic clouds and thermal anomalies. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images are used for daily monitoring and analysis. AVHRR and MODIS data are received and analyzed in real-time at stations at the Geophysical Institute. GOES data is received over computer networks. Landsat, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data are used for retrospective studies of surface volcanic processes. Volcanoes in the North Pacific Region include those in Alaska and on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, are the primary focus of these studies. Analyzed images are shared with various components of the AVO through a file server and ftp in near real-time. This project is funded by the USGS Hazards Program as part of the AVO project (http://www.avo.alaska.edu/)

A second project is the Puff dispersion model (http://puff.images.alaska.edu/), which is used to predict the movement, dynamics and structure of volcanic ash clouds. The model uses current wind fields to track hypothetical particles on a global or regional scale. Dispersion, settling, particle size, plume height and shape of the eruption column are input parameters. The model is used for both volcano monitoring and research. The focus of research includes probability maps of the distribution of ash particles in the North Pacific Region, model sensitivity analyses and fallout predictions. The model is actively updated and improved based on research results. Puff is in use at the Anchorage National Weather Service, U.S. Air Force Weather Group and at several Universities world-wide. This project is funded by the Department of Defense.

The HRPT satellite receiving project involves the reception, archiving and distribution of AVHRR data which is part of the ION project. This project has been providing AVHRR satellite data of the western Arctic since 1993. The station mask reaches from Greenland to the Lena River Delta, Russia and from the North Pole to northern California.