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Kenneson
G. Dean is co-group leader with Buck Sharpton of the Earth and
Planetary Remote Sensing Group at the Geophysical Institute. His interests
are primarily studies of active surficial processes and landforms using
satellite data. Present projects are focused on volcanic eruptions in
the North Pacific Region, development of the Puff dispersion model, and
the High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) project.
Ken leads the satellite-monitoring group for the Alaska Volcano Observatory
(AVO) project in Fairbanks. Research objectives include dynamics, spectral
properties and composition of eruption clouds; the dynamics and sources
of thermal anomalies; and changes in surface landforms caused by eruptions.
Satellite data are used to detect, monitor and analyze potential airborne
and surface hazards resulting from volcanic eruptions, including volcanic
clouds and thermal anomalies. Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite (GOES), Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), and
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images are used
for daily monitoring and analysis. AVHRR and MODIS data are received and
analyzed in real-time at stations at the Geophysical Institute. GOES data
is received over computer networks. Landsat, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal
Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and Synthetic Aperture Radar
(SAR) data are used for retrospective studies of surface volcanic processes.
Volcanoes in the North Pacific Region include those in Alaska and on the
Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, are the primary focus of these studies. Analyzed
images are shared with various components of the AVO through a file server
and ftp in near real-time. This project is funded by the USGS Hazards
Program as part of the AVO project (http://www.avo.alaska.edu/)
A second project is the Puff dispersion model (http://puff.images.alaska.edu/),
which is used to predict the movement, dynamics and structure of volcanic
ash clouds. The model uses current wind fields to track hypothetical particles
on a global or regional scale. Dispersion, settling, particle size, plume
height and shape of the eruption column are input parameters. The model
is used for both volcano monitoring and research. The focus of research
includes probability maps of the distribution of ash particles in the
North Pacific Region, model sensitivity analyses and fallout predictions.
The model is actively updated and improved based on research results.
Puff is in use at the Anchorage National Weather Service, U.S. Air Force
Weather Group and at several Universities world-wide. This project is
funded by the Department of Defense.
The HRPT satellite receiving project involves the reception, archiving
and distribution of AVHRR data which is part of the ION project. This
project has been providing AVHRR satellite data of the western Arctic
since 1993. The station mask reaches from Greenland to the Lena River
Delta, Russia and from the North Pole to northern California.
Teaching and Students:
Ken’s primary duties are research but he does teach a graduate class
entitled, “Remote Sensing of Volcanic Eruptions,” (GEOS 692)
in the Department of Geology and Geophysics. This class is taught every
other year and is focused on satellite monitoring techniques used at AVO
and other volcano observatories around the world. Jonathan Dehn is a co-instructor
for the class.
Graduate students under Ken’s direction learn about acquisition,
processing and analysis of satellite data, and how these data are used
to monitor and study volcanic processes. Students are a critical component
to daily volcano monitoring for the AVO project.