ORAU
Hyperspectral Investigations of the Composition of Volcanic Plumes
ORAU, Pasadena, California, United States, 91122
Hyperspectral Investigations of the Composition of Volcanic Plumes
Join to apply for the
Hyperspectral Investigations of the Composition of Volcanic Plumes
role at
ORAU
Be among the first 25 applicants.
Overview The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.
Description The venting of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the summit of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, leads to the formation of volcanic smog, or vog, which is a noxious and corrosive suspension of SO2, fine-scaled (PM2.5) sulfate (SO4) aerosols, and water droplets. To improve our understanding of the generation and dispersion of vog in Hawaii, NASA will conduct an airborne campaign over Kilauea in early 2017, deploying AVIRIS-Classic, MASTER, and the new Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES). We will use MASTER TIR and HyTES data to map the initial concentrations of SO2 emitted from the summit of Kilauea, while AVIRIS-C data will be used to estimate changes in the mass concentration of SO4 aerosols downwind of the summit through changes in the aerosol optical depth (AOD) of the plumes. This experiment will provide better constraints on the rates of SO2/SO4 conversion, and map spatial variations in this conversion rate with topography and local meteorological conditions. In addition, our data products will be used to initialize and validate a vog forecasting model operated at the University of Hawaii.
Location:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
Field of Science:
Earth Science
Advisors:
Vincent James Realmuto
vincent.j.realmuto@jpl.nasa.gov
818-354-1824
Questions about this opportunity?
Please email npp@orau.org
Reference Code:
0139-NPP-NOV25-JPL-EarthSci
Application Deadline:
11/1/2025 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
How To Apply All applications must be submitted in Zintellect. Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org)
Application components
Research proposal
Three letters of recommendation
Official doctoral transcript documents
Eligibility Eligibility is currently open to:
U.S. Citizens;
U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status; and,
Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status
A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.
Seniority level
Internship
Employment type
Full-time
Questions Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org
Eligibility Requirements
Degree: Doctoral Degree.
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Hyperspectral Investigations of the Composition of Volcanic Plumes
role at
ORAU
Be among the first 25 applicants.
Overview The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.
Description The venting of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the summit of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, leads to the formation of volcanic smog, or vog, which is a noxious and corrosive suspension of SO2, fine-scaled (PM2.5) sulfate (SO4) aerosols, and water droplets. To improve our understanding of the generation and dispersion of vog in Hawaii, NASA will conduct an airborne campaign over Kilauea in early 2017, deploying AVIRIS-Classic, MASTER, and the new Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES). We will use MASTER TIR and HyTES data to map the initial concentrations of SO2 emitted from the summit of Kilauea, while AVIRIS-C data will be used to estimate changes in the mass concentration of SO4 aerosols downwind of the summit through changes in the aerosol optical depth (AOD) of the plumes. This experiment will provide better constraints on the rates of SO2/SO4 conversion, and map spatial variations in this conversion rate with topography and local meteorological conditions. In addition, our data products will be used to initialize and validate a vog forecasting model operated at the University of Hawaii.
Location:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
Field of Science:
Earth Science
Advisors:
Vincent James Realmuto
vincent.j.realmuto@jpl.nasa.gov
818-354-1824
Questions about this opportunity?
Please email npp@orau.org
Reference Code:
0139-NPP-NOV25-JPL-EarthSci
Application Deadline:
11/1/2025 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
How To Apply All applications must be submitted in Zintellect. Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org)
Application components
Research proposal
Three letters of recommendation
Official doctoral transcript documents
Eligibility Eligibility is currently open to:
U.S. Citizens;
U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status; and,
Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status
A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.
Seniority level
Internship
Employment type
Full-time
Questions Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org
Eligibility Requirements
Degree: Doctoral Degree.
#J-18808-Ljbffr