Predicting and Validating the Tracking of a Volcanic Ash Cloud during the 2006 Eruption of Mt. Augustine Volcano

AVO is responsible for monitoring the 100 active volcanoes in the Northern Pacific and issues reports- in conjunc- tion with the Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Cen- ter (VAAC) of the NWS and Federal Aviation Adminis- tration (FAA)- to alert aircraft to the presence of potentially hazardous volcanic ash clouds. In this paper, we examine the prevailing flow, the Puff model predictions, and measurements of the ash cloud taken by aerosol samplers, laser radar (or lidar) systems, and satellites obtained during the continuous period of eruption (29 January-2 February 2006).