EarthCARE Tracks Anak Krakatau Volcanic Plume
Satellite instruments mapped layers of sulphate and ash from the eruption, helping aviation authorities issue flight advice.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Geology
The EarthCARE satellite captured a volcanic plume from Anak Krakatau in Indonesia, with its instruments measuring aerosol layers of sulphate, fine ash, and coarse ash. Aviation authorities were advised not to fly aircraft in a grey area of the plume where the satellite's instruments could not fully characterise it.
Why it matters
Volcanic plumes pose a hazard to aircraft, and satellite observations can provide the vertical structure needed to inform flight advice in near-real time. The observations also help scientists understand how volcanic aerosols behave after eruptions.
EarthCARE's ATLID and CPR instruments measured aerosol layers, with a feature extending from the surface to around 6 km believed to be larger ash aggregates. The grey area where the laser could not penetrate the sulphate layer and the radar lacked sensitivity to fine ash is not yet fully characterised.
The players
EarthCARE
EarthCARE is a joint European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency satellite mission that studies clouds, aerosols, and radiation in Earth's atmosphere.
Bureau of Meteorology
The Bureau of Meteorology is Australia's national weather, climate, and water agency, which verified the volcanic plume's position and advised on aviation hazards.
The details
The EarthCARE MSI instrument captured the plume in false colour, while the ATLID lidar and CPR radar measured its vertical structure. The instruments showed aerosols spread in layers of sulphate, fine ash, and coarse ash, and the Bureau of Meteorology and VAAC forecasters verified the westward-moving plume at FL500.
Timeline
1883: Krakatoa eruption injected sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere, which persisted for more than a year.
2024: EarthCARE data contributed to research on global transport of stratospheric aerosols from the Mount Ruang eruption.
The Big Picture
The 1883 Krakatoa eruption injected sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere that persisted for more than a year, a benchmark for understanding eruptive impacts. EarthCARE's observations now let scientists track comparable layered aerosol structures in near-real time, building on that historical record.
Aviation operators flying near volcanic regions may benefit from satellite-based plume tracking that identifies hazardous grey areas. Research using EarthCARE measurements could eventually sharpen forecasts of how volcanic aerosols affect air travel and climate.
The takeaway
Satellite instruments that combine lidar and radar can reveal layers that a single sensor would miss, which matters when a volcanic plume threatens flight safety. Continued measurements will help forecasters separate ash hazards from sulphate aerosols.
Further reading
Explore more on Geology for the broader science of volcanic eruptions and their atmospheric effects.
Source note: This article includes information reported by European Space Agency (ESA).
