Professor Michael Ramsey and Dr. Adam Carter featured in National Geographic
The research of Michael Ramsey and Adam Carter from the Department of Geology and Planetary
Science at the University of Pittsburgh was recently featured in National Geographic News, the
online site of National Geographic Magazine. The article, "Infrared Technology Reveals Volcanoes'
Secrets", focused on the ongoing research at Bezymianny Volcano in Kamachatka, Russia using thermal
infrared data. It will also be highlighted on the Nat Geo television channel airing Wednesday, April
22, 2009: Earth Report: State of the Planet 2009.
Volcanologist Michael Ramsey, has spent 12 years investigating volcanic behavior, and is now using
thermal infrared technology and data from NASA and weather satellites to determine when
and how violently volcanoes will erupt. Thermal infrared imaging, which captures pictures of
radiated energy invisible to the human eye, helps scientists like Ramsey track potentially
deadly patterns of heat in and around some of the world's 1,500 active volcanoes.
With funding from the National Geographic Society's Committee for Research and Exploration,
Ramsey and his post-doctoral researcher, geologist Adam Carter, were able to fine-tune
information they received from the Earth-imaging ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission
and Reflection Radiometer) sensor on NASA's Terra satellite by cross-referencing it with
ground samples and images Carter collected at one of 29 active volcanoes on the Kamchatka
Peninsula, in far eastern Russia.
For Dr. Ramsey's research page click here
For Dr. Carter's research page click here
To read the article, click here
To see a clip from the TV show, click here
For other Departmental News & Information click here
First Announced: December 1, 2008
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