Rise dynamics and relative ash distribution in vulcanian eruption plumes at Santiaguito Volcano, Guatemala, revealed using an ultraviolet imaging camera

Santiaguito Volcano, Guatemala, regularly produces small vulcanian eruption plumes which rise to heights of up to 2 km. A combined study using a novel UV camera coupled with classical analysis of the fluid dynamics of finite‐volume buoyant releases (thermals) has been used to develop a detection algorithm for ground‐based volcanic ash monitoring. Analysis of plume rise dynamics shows that vulcanian eruption plumes at Santiaguito behave as axisymmetric buoyant thermals, and this behaviour is consistent with eruption of volcanic gas and particle mixtures whose initial momentum is dissipated by flow through a porous capping layer. The UV imager has been adapted to detect relative ash burdens through the use of a single filter, centred on 307 nm, an edge detection and background fitting procedure and normalising to a simple theoretical model. The method provides the capability to observe and measure the internal structure of the plume, and processes occurring during plume rise, including concentration of ash over time into the thermal ‘head’, increased ash at the plume edges during early formation of the thermal and dilution at the top of the plume head as entrainment occurs.