SO2 data and alert service

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Product information

Introduction
 
Slant column density vs.
vertical column density
Geographic regions
Data presentation
and delivery
Solar Zenith Angle
What is the Dobson Unit?
 
Slant column retrieval
Background correction
Reference spectrum
Cloud cover fraction
 
Near-real time service
Criteria for exceptional
SO2 concentrations
 
Air-mass factor using
look-up tables
Air-mass factor using a
chemistry transport model
SO2 column from OMI
 
Time period of
available data
Data format specification
Data and Service
version history
Validation of the
data products
South Atlantic Anomaly
 
Downloading
data & image files
Documentation
References
Acronyms
Acknowledgments

 
NOTE:   This is the OLD product info. Some parts of it are no longer up to date, while other parts are missing -- see the remark on the main product info page.

Geographic regions monitored in the Services

The SO2 column values are presented and delivered via the website in the form of images (maps) and data files. There is no real difference between the Volcanic SO2 and the Air Quality SO2 Service, other than that they focus on different geographic regions. The Notification (or: Alert) Service or exceptional SO2 concentrations of the Near-Real-Time (NRT) delivery monitors each of these regions.

The size of the regions is determined on the one hand by the wish to zoom in on sources of SO2 emissions and on the other hand by the geographical coverage achived by the satellite instruments when passing through the region: at least one orbit should pass through a region at any day.

The regions of the two Services partly overlap one another, which means that SO2 emissions may be detected by both Services. As the measurement itself cannot distinguish between possible sources of SO2 anyway, this is not a big problem.

In addation to plots for the individual regions of both services, two more plots are shown: one of the whole world shown in a cylindrical projection, and one which shows the two poles from above.

 

Volcanic SO2 Service

Volcanic SO2 Service regions For the Volcanic SO2 Service, a set of 42 geographic regions of 30 by 30 degrees covering known volcanoes has been defined. On the plots of the regions shown on the website, only shows the volcanoes in that region that have erupted since the year 1800, as listed on the website of the Global Volcanism Programme (GVP).

The regions partly overlap one another, to ensure that SO2 emissions from volcanoes near the edges of the regions are detected, whatever the wind direction.

See the Overview of the Volcanic SO2 Service regions for details. [NOTE: outdated link removed]

 

Air Quality SO2 Service

Air Quality SO2 Service regions For the Air Quality SO2 Service, a set of 11 geographic regions of 40 by 40 degrees covering industrialised areas has been defined.

There is no region defined for this Service over Southern America, because of the detection problems associated with the South Atlantic Anomaly.

See the Overview of the Air Quality SO2 Service regions for details. [NOTE: outdated link removed]

 

 

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