PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING AND RETURNING ASH SAMPLES FROM MODERN VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

This type of sampling requires that ash be collected within a specified and measured area. We use this information to calculate ash fall volumes. Measured-area samples can be collected after or during ash fall and both situations are described below. Ideally we would like two measured-area samples collected in different places (i.e front and back of your house) so we can assess how representative each sample is of your area. You may also collect a sample from the snow as well as a sample in a container for comparison (see container sampling below).

What you need:

Plastic zip lock bag, heavy-duty, freezer quality works best
Ruler or measuring tape
Permanent marking pen to write on plastic bags
Clean spatula, putty knife, or similar implement
Container, paper, or tin foil for collection during ash fall (refer to container collection below)
Datasheet (download and print)

Procedure for Collecting Ash Samples After Ash Fall
If ash has fallen on clean snow,

1. Select an area in an open space where ash has directly fallen away from trees or other obstructions or if you know an ash cloud is coming your way and you plan to collect it from snow, be sure the snow is clean. If the snow surface is old and dirty, scrape a ~3 x 3 foot area before ash begins to fall.
2. Measure and trace out a square (preferably at least 12 x 12 in.) on the deposit or snow with the edge of a knife or tool.
3. Label your sample bag with a unique sample number. We typically use the year, personal initials, and a number (06KW-1) but you can label however you like as long as the number is unique (no two are the same).
4. Carefully remove the ash within the square and some of the underlying snow as shown in figure 1.
5. Place the ash and snow from the square into a plastic zip loc bag.
6. Make a thickness measurement. Try to measure the thickness to the nearest 1/16th of an inch or to the nearest half millimeter. The more accurate you are the better the volume calculation will be!
7. Record sample data on the datasheet.
8. Bring the bag(s) into a warm place so that the snow will melt. Placing the bag in a pot will keep it from tipping over as the snow melts. Let the ash settle out and then pour off as much water as you can without losing any ash. This may take a couple of tries, letting the ash resettle each time. Leave the bag open to allow the sample to dry a bit for a day or so (doesn't need to be totally dry, just dry enough to ship). Reseal and double bag the sample and return to AVO at the address below.
9. If you have a camera, we would appreciate photos of the ash sampling location. Please send them to us with your ash sample.

If ash fall is unexpected - no snow, no container,
If ash falls unexpectedly at your location when there's no snow and before you can get a suitable container placed:

1. Select an area in an open space where ash has directly fallen onto a hard, flat, smooth surface (e.g. fairly flat roofs, steps not covered by an overhang, docks, machinery, etc.) away from trees or other obstructions.
2. Make a thickness measurement. Try to measure the thickness to the nearest 1/16th of an inch or to the nearest half millimeter. The more accurate you are the better the volume calculation will be!
3. Measure and trace out a square (preferably at least 12 x 12 in.) on the deposit with the edge of a knife or tool.
4. Carefully remove or push away ash several inches from the outer perimeter of the marked square as shown in figure 2; this often makes it easier to cleanly collect the ash within the marked square.
5. Label your sample bag with a unique sample number. We typically use the year, personal initials, and a number (06KW-1) but you can label however you like as long as the number is unique (no two are the same).
6. Record sample data on the datasheet. Seal and double bag the sample and return to AVO at the address below.
7. If you have a camera, we would appreciate photos of the ash sampling location. Send them to us with your ash sample.

Procedures for Collecting Ash Samples During Ash Fall
If ash is coming your way and you've got time to prepare, follow these instructions. This is an opportunity to obtain more detailed information about the ash fall. This method will also help avoid contamination and prevent the ash from being blown away. The following instructions are for collection into a container or onto a piece of paper or tin foil that is placed at the start of ash fall (or prior to), and left out the entire duration of the event. If you have the time, we would love to have samples collected incrementally through time during a single ash fall event! If you are interested in this type of sampling refer to the section on time-incremental sampling below.

Collecting ash sample using a container,

1. Select a container that can be easily measured (diameter for circular containers or length and width for square or rectangular containers). A thin-lipped container works best and square or rectangular containers must not have large tapered or rounded lips.
2. Make a couple of measurements from inside edge to inside edge of the container lip (figure 3).
3. Place the container in an open area away from trees or other obstructions.
4. Record time and date that ash fall begins and ends. Time should be recorded as accurately and precisely as possible.
5. After the ash falls, try to make a thickness measurement in the container or on nearby flat surfaces. Try to measure the thickness to the nearest 1/16th of an inch or to the nearest half millimeter. The more accurate you are the better the volume calculation will be!
6. Remove any ash from the lip of the container using a brush or your fingers trying not to get any into the container (we only want ash that falls into the container not on the lip of the container).
7. Label your sample bag with a unique sample number. We typically use the year, personal initials, and a number (06KW-1) but you can label however you like as long as the number is unique (no two are the same).
8. Empty ash from container into a plastic zip lock bag.
9. Record sample data on the datasheet. Seal and double bag the sample and return to AVO at the address below.

Collecting ash sample using paper or tin foil,

1. A piece of standard copy paper or trimmed tin foil can be used as a collection surface; there is no need to measure the paper or foil, it will be included with the sample and we can measure it later.
2. Place the paper or foil on a flat surface in open area away from trees or other obstructions.
3. Record time and date that ash fall begins and ends. Time should be recorded as accurately and precisely as possible.
4. Make a thickness measurement of ash on a nearby flat surface. Try to measure the thickness to the nearest 1/16th of an inch or to the nearest half millimeter. The more accurate you are the better the volume calculation will be!
5. Label your sample bag with a unique sample number. We typically use the year, personal initials, and a number (06KW-1) but you can label however you like as long as the number is unique (no two are the same).
6. After ash fall ends, carefully lift the edges of the paper to shift the ash towards the center. Then pick the paper up and pour the ash into your plastic sample bag.
7. Fold the paper up and include it in the bag; we need this to measure the area of the sample.
8. Record sample data on the datasheet. Seal and double bag the sample and return to AVO at the address below.

Collecting time-incremental ash samples,
These instructions are for collecting ash samples at set time intervals during an ash fall event. It will take some dedicated time and focus. This type of sampling helps us to see when various size particles fall out of the plume, how chemistry varies through time etc. and is incredibly valuable data that is almost never collected! So if you are up to sampling at a regular time interval and live within the fall out zone of ash fall, we would love these data. Thank You!

What you need:

Watch, with accurate time, Alaska Standard Time (AST); time on your cellular phone is a good reference.
Container, standard sheet of paper, or foil
Plastic zip lock bag, heavy-duty, freezer quality works best
Permanent marking pen to write on plastic bag
Datasheet (download and print)

Procedures for Collecting Time-Incremental Ash Samples

1. Before ash begins falling, place a container, paper, or foil out in an open space away from trees or other obstructions. There is no need to measure the container; we only need a bulk sample.
2. Decide on a regular schedule for replacing container/paper/foil during ash fall event (every 30 minutes is optimum for most eruptions)
3. Have extra containers/paper/foil ready to deploy at your set interval (i.e to replace existing container)
4. Label your sample bags with unique and sequential sample numbers (make a few up ahead of time)
5. Record time and date that ash fall begins and ends for each collection interval (i.e sample 06KW-1, 8:30 am- 9:00 am 3/21/06). Time should be recorded as accurately and precisely as possible.
6. Record sample data on the datasheet. Place all bags of individual samples together in a large plastic zip lock bag so we know they are all from the same ash fall event. Seal and double bag the samples and return to AVO at the address below.