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You are here: Home > Current Volcanic Activity > Great Sitkin > ASH3D Ash Cloud Load Model

ASH3D: Ash Cloud Load Forecast for Hypothetical Eruption
  • This ash cloud load graphic is the output of a mathematical model of volcanic ash transport in the atmosphere (Ash3D, USGS).
  • This model shows expected load (amount) of ash in the atmosphere for actual or hypothetical eruptions.
  • AVO produces this graphic when a volcano is restless by assuming a reasonable hypothetical eruption, in order to provide a pre-eruptive forecast of airspace likely to be affected. During an eruption, AVO updates the forecast with actual observations (eruption start time and duration, plume height) as they become available.
  • Colors represent amounts of ash in the atmosphere, summed from the bottom to the top of the cloud. Warmer colors represent areas of greater ash; colder colors mean less ash.
  • This graphic does not show ashfall deposition on the ground; go here for ashfall graphic. Note that it is possible for ash clouds to move overhead with little or no fallout on the ground.
  • For more information about ASH3D, see USGS Open-File Report 2013-1122.
  • Return to Great Sitkin activity page for more information on its eruptive status.


View all model output side by side
THESE PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE CURRENT.
During an actual eruption, see National Weather Service forecasts of airborne ash hazard to aircraft (SIGMETS: https://weather.gov/aawu/ and Volcanic Ash Advisories: https://weather.gov/vaac) as well as forecasts of ash fall: https://weather.gov/afc.
URL: www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/ash3d/cloud_load.php
Page modified: November 27, 2017 11:43
Contact Information: AVO Web Team

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