{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,26]],"date-time":"2026-03-26T21:22:10Z","timestamp":1774560130526,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,6]],"date-time":"2022-04-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1649203200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001711","name":"Swiss National Science Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["#200021_169463"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["#200021_169463"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001711","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Remote Sensing"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Tephra plumes from explosive volcanic eruptions can be hazardous for the lives and livelihoods of people living in the proximity of volcanoes. Monitoring and forecasting tephra plumes play essential roles in the detection, characterization and hazard assessment of explosive volcanic events. However, advanced monitoring instruments, e.g., thermal cameras, can be expensive and are not always available in monitoring networks. Conversely, visible-wavelength cameras are significantly cheaper and much more widely available. This paper proposes an innovative approach to the detection and parametrization of tephra plumes, utilizing videos recorded in the visible wavelengths. Specifically, we have developed an algorithm with the objectives of: (i) identifying and isolating plume-containing pixels through image processing techniques; (ii) extracting the main geometrical parameters of the eruptive column, such as the height and width, as functions of time; and (iii) determining quantitative information related to the plume motion (e.g., the rise velocity and acceleration) using the physical quantities obtained through the first-order analysis. The resulting MATLAB-based software, named Plume Tracking and Parametrization (PlumeTraP), semi-automatically tracks the plume and is also capable of automatically calculating the associated geometric parameters. Through application of the algorithm to the case study of Vulcanian explosions from Sabancaya volcano (Peru), we verify that the eruptive column boundaries are well recognized, and that the calculated parameters are reliable. The developed software can be of significant use to the wider volcanological community, enabling research into the dynamics of explosive volcanic eruptions, as well as potentially improving the use of visible-wavelength cameras as part of the monitoring networks of active volcanoes. Furthermore, PlumeTraP could potentially find a broader application for the analysis of any other plume-shaped natural or anthropogenic phenomena in visible wavelengths.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/rs14071766","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,7]],"date-time":"2022-04-07T21:08:22Z","timestamp":1649365702000},"page":"1766","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["PlumeTraP: A New MATLAB-Based Algorithm to Detect and Parametrize Volcanic Plumes from Visible-Wavelength Images"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1283-3136","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Riccardo","family":"Simionato","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Facolt\u00e0 di Scienze, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy"}]},{"given":"Paul A.","family":"Jarvis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"GNS Science, Wairakei Research Centre, Taupo 3352, New Zealand"},{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Sciences de la Terre, Facult\u00e9 de Sciences, Universit\u00e9 de Gen\u00e8ve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland"}]},{"given":"Eduardo","family":"Rossi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Sciences de la Terre, Facult\u00e9 de Sciences, Universit\u00e9 de Gen\u00e8ve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2368-2193","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Costanza","family":"Bonadonna","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Sciences de la Terre, Facult\u00e9 de Sciences, Universit\u00e9 de Gen\u00e8ve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Sigurdsson, H., Houghton, B.F., McNutt, S.R., Rymer, H., and Stix, J. (2015). The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, Elsevier. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vye-Brown, C., Brown, S.K., Sparks, S., Loughlin, S.C., and Jenkins, S.F. (2015). Volcanic Ash Fall Hazard and Risk. Global Volcanic Hazards and Risk, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9781316276273.004"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1007\/s00445-010-0396-1","article-title":"Ash Storms: Impacts of Wind-Remobilised Volcanic Ash on Rural Communities and Agriculture Following the 1991 Hudson Eruption, Southern Patagonia, Chile","volume":"73","author":"Wilson","year":"2011","journal-title":"Bull. Volcanol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pce.2011.06.006","article-title":"Volcanic Ash Impacts on Critical Infrastructure","volume":"45\u201346","author":"Wilson","year":"2012","journal-title":"Phys. Chem. Earth Parts ABC"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s00445-006-0052-y","article-title":"The Respiratory Health Hazards of Volcanic Ash: A Review for Volcanic Risk Mitigation","volume":"69","author":"Horwell","year":"2006","journal-title":"Bull. Volcanol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvolgeores.2012.05.020","article-title":"A Review of Tephra Transport and Dispersal Models: Evolution, Current Status, and Future Perspectives","volume":"235\u2013236","author":"Folch","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Sigurdsson, H. (2015). Chapter 51\u2014Probabilistic Volcanic Hazard Assessment. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, Academic Press. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1573","DOI":"10.5194\/nhess-9-1573-2009","article-title":"Monitoring and Forecasting Etna Volcanic Plumes","volume":"9","author":"Scollo","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvolgeores.2010.04.010","article-title":"Measuring Volcanic Degassing of SO2 in the Lower Troposphere with ASTER Band Ratios","volume":"194","author":"Campion","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Corradini, S., Montopoli, M., Guerrieri, L., Ricci, M., Scollo, S., Merucci, L., Marzano, F., Pugnaghi, S., Prestifilippo, M., and Ventress, L. (2016). A Multi-Sensor Approach for Volcanic Ash Cloud Retrieval and Eruption Characterization: The 23 November 2013 Etna Lava Fountain. Remote Sens., 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/rs8010058"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9570","DOI":"10.1029\/2018JB015561","article-title":"Infrasonic Early Warning System for Explosive Eruptions","volume":"123","author":"Ripepe","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Scollo, S., Prestifilippo, M., Bonadonna, C., Cioni, R., Corradini, S., Degruyter, W., Rossi, E., Silvestri, M., Biale, E., and Carparelli, G. (2019). Near-Real-Time Tephra Fallout Assessment at Mt. Etna, Italy. Remote Sens., 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/rs11242987"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cigna, F., Tapete, D., and Lu, Z. (2020). Remote Sensing of Volcanic Processes and Risk. Remote Sens., 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/rs12162567"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Freret-Lorgeril, V., Bonadonna, C., Corradini, S., Donnadieu, F., Guerrieri, L., Lacanna, G., Marzano, F.S., Mereu, L., Merucci, L., and Ripepe, M. (2021). Examples of Multi-Sensor Determination of Eruptive Source Parameters of Explosive Events at Mount Etna. Remote Sens., 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/rs13112097"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvolgeores.2018.01.006","article-title":"An Algorithm for the Detection and Characterisation of Volcanic Plumes Using Thermal Camera Imagery","volume":"352","author":"Bombrun","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"769","DOI":"10.1007\/s00445-006-0107-0","article-title":"Strombolian Explosive Styles and Source Conditions: Insights from Thermal (FLIR) Video","volume":"69","author":"Patrick","year":"2007","journal-title":"Bull. Volcanol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"827","DOI":"10.1007\/s00445-009-0284-8","article-title":"Thermal-Image-Derived Dynamics of Vertical Ash Plumes at Santiaguito Volcano, Guatemala","volume":"71","author":"Harris","year":"2009","journal-title":"Bull. Volcanol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cageo.2013.12.015","article-title":"Plume Ascent Tracker: Interactive Matlab Software for Analysis of Ascending Plumes in Image Data","volume":"66","author":"Valade","year":"2014","journal-title":"Comput. Geosci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-246X.1982.tb04965.x","article-title":"Explosive Volcanic Eruptions\u2014V. Observations of Plume Dynamics during the 1979 Soufri\u00e8re Eruption, St Vincent","volume":"69","author":"Sparks","year":"1982","journal-title":"Geophys. J. Int."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"897","DOI":"10.1038\/415897a","article-title":"Transient Dynamics of Vulcanian Explosions and Column Collapse","volume":"415","author":"Clarke","year":"2002","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"587","DOI":"10.1007\/s00445-003-0288-8","article-title":"Characterisation of the 1997 Vulcanian Explosions of Soufri\u00e8re Hills Volcano, Montserrat, by Video Analysis","volume":"65","author":"Formenti","year":"2003","journal-title":"Bull. Volcanol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9784","DOI":"10.1002\/2017JB014907","article-title":"The Initial Development of Transient Volcanic Plumes as a Function of Source Conditions","volume":"122","author":"Tournigand","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.30909\/vol.04.S1.7392","article-title":"Hazard Assessment Studies and Multiparametric Volcano Monitoring Developed by the Instituto Geol\u00f3gico, Minero y Metal\u00fargico in Peru","volume":"4","author":"Contreras","year":"2021","journal-title":"Volcanica"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1080\/00288306.2021.1918186","article-title":"Whakaari\/White Island: A Review of New Zealand\u2019s Most Active Volcano","volume":"64","author":"Kilgour","year":"2021","journal-title":"N. Z. J. Geol. Geophys."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1016\/j.earscirev.2011.01.003","article-title":"Volcano Surveillance Using Infrared Cameras","volume":"106","author":"Spampinato","year":"2011","journal-title":"Earth-Sci. Rev."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Rivera Porras, M.A., Mari\u00f1o Salazar, J., Samaniego Eguiguren, P., Delgado Ramos, R., and Manrique Llerena, N. (2016). Geolog\u00eda y evaluaci\u00f3n de peligros del complejo volc\u00e1nico Ampato-Sabancaya, Arequipa-[Bolet\u00edn C 61]. Inst. Geol\u00f3gico Min. Met. INGEMMET, Available online: https:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/20.500.12544\/297."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Mari\u00f1o Salazar, J., Rivera Porras, M.A., Samaniego Eguiguren, P., and Macedo Franco, L.D. (2016). Evaluaci\u00f3n y zonificaci\u00f3n de peligros volc\u00e1n Sabancaya, regi\u00f3n Arequipa. Inst. Geol\u00f3gico Min. Met. INGEMMET, Available online: https:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/20.500.12544\/993."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"541","DOI":"10.1007\/s00445-004-0340-3","article-title":"Role of Magma Mixing in the Petrogenesis of Tephra Erupted during the 1990\u201398 Explosive Activity of Nevado Sabancaya, Southern Peru","volume":"66","author":"Gerbe","year":"2004","journal-title":"Bull. Volcanol."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2019JB019281","DOI":"10.1029\/2019JB019281","article-title":"Volcano-Tectonic Interactions at Sabancaya Volcano, Peru: Eruptions, Magmatic Inflation, Moderate Earthquakes, and Fault Creep","volume":"125","author":"MacQueen","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth"},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"(2021, June 26). Global Volcanism Program, 2018. Report on Sabancaya (Peru). Sennert, S.K., (Ed.); Weekly Volcanic Activity Report. 1\u20137 August 2018. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey. Available online: https:\/\/volcano.si.edu\/ShowReport.cfm?doi=10.5479\/si.GVP.WVAR20180801-354006."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"(2021, June 26). Global Volcanism Program, 2018. Report on Sabancaya (Peru). Sennert, S.K., (Ed.); Weekly Volcanic Activity Report. 8\u201314 August 2018. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey. Available online: https:\/\/volcano.si.edu\/ShowReport.cfm?doi=10.5479\/si.GVP.WVAR20180808-354006."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"(2021, June 26). Global Volcanism Program, 2018. Report on Sabancaya (Peru). Sennert, S.K. (Ed.); Weekly Volcanic Activity Report. 25\u201331 July 2018. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey. Available online: https:\/\/volcano.si.edu\/ShowReport.cfm?doi=10.5479\/si.GVP.WVAR20180725-354006."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"671","DOI":"10.1038\/nmeth.2089","article-title":"NIH Image to ImageJ: 25 Years of Image Analysis","volume":"9","author":"Schneider","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nat. Methods"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sommer, C., Straehle, C., K\u00f6the, U., and Hamprecht, F.A. (April, January 30). Ilastik: Interactive Learning and Segmentation Toolkit. Proceedings of the 2011 IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging: From Nano to Macro, Chicago, IL, USA.","DOI":"10.1109\/ISBI.2011.5872394"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Snee, E., Jarvis, P.A., Simionato, R., Scollo, S., Prestifilippo, M., Degruyter, W., and Bonadonna, C. (Volcanica, 2022). Image Analysis of Volcanic Plumes: A Simple Calibration Tool to Correct for the Effect of Wind, Volcanica, submitted.","DOI":"10.30909\/vol.06.02.447458"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1016\/0377-0273(94)90037-X","article-title":"The Dynamics and Thermodynamics of Volcanic Clouds: Theory and Observations from the 15 April and 21 April 1990 Eruptions of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska","volume":"62","author":"Woods","year":"1994","journal-title":"J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"L08314","DOI":"10.1029\/2007GL032008","article-title":"Rise Dynamics and Relative Ash Distribution in Vulcanian Eruption Plumes at Santiaguito Volcano, Guatemala, Revealed Using an Ultraviolet Imaging Camera","volume":"35","author":"Yamamoto","year":"2008","journal-title":"Geophys. Res. Lett."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"517","DOI":"10.1144\/GSL.MEM.2002.021.01.23","article-title":"Numerical Modelling of Tephra Fallout Associated with Dome Collapses and Vulcanian Explosions: Application to Hazard Assessment on Montserrat","volume":"21","author":"Bonadonna","year":"2002","journal-title":"Geol. Soc. Lond. Mem."},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"(2021, October 20). Supported Video and Audio File Formats-MATLAB & Simulink-MathWorks United Kingdom. Available online: https:\/\/uk.mathworks.com\/help\/matlab\/import_export\/supported-video-file-formats.html."}],"container-title":["Remote Sensing"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-4292\/14\/7\/1766\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T22:49:30Z","timestamp":1760136570000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-4292\/14\/7\/1766"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,6]]},"references-count":39,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,4]]}},"alternative-id":["rs14071766"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/rs14071766","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-4292"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-4292","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,4,6]]}}}