| Abstract: | A new infra-red radiometer for volcanological purposes consists of a commercially available infra-red optical unit (IR camera), mounted on a balloon-tracking theodolite in place of the telescope. The device has a motor-driven horizontal scan at two speeds, and the output signal is fed to a portable recorder. Thus, it is possible to obtain the horizontal temperature profile of an objective area. With successive scanning with different vertical angles of the camera, the spatial temperature distribution can be obtained.The IR ground scanner was successfully utilized at two volcanoes — Kusatsu-shirane and Mihara-yama, O-shima. Repeated IR surveys were made after minor eruptive events. Variations of the surface temperature with time were detected for both volcanoes. The IR scanner is also suitable for monitoring the time and temperature of eruptions from active vents. |
