Washington, DC Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Program
About Us:
The National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) of the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB) of the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS), are jointly responsible for the activities of the Washington VAAC located in Camp Springs, Maryland. The Satellite Analysis Branch is responsible for monitoring all available satellite imagery for volcanic ash plumes and issuing Volcanic Ash Advisories (VAA). The National Center for Environmental Prediction is responsible for issuing Volcanic Ash Forecast Transport and Dispersion (VAFTAD) Models. Operation of the Washington Volcano Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) officially began November 1, 1997 although SAB has been monitoring volcanoes as far back as 1980.
The current VAA page is updated with each new advisory. When we can clearly see a plume of ash in satellite Imagery, it is graphically depicted, and sent to our message page.
A Graphic representation of the ash plume as seen on satellite imagery is attached to the message when available, but only on the Internet. (Graphic Sample).
After 15 days on the current page, VAA Messages are Archived by year. The current year archive is updated daily shortly after midnight UTC. Past Archives: 1999; 2000; 2001; 2002; 2003, 2004, 2005
Volcanic Ash Forecast Transport and Dispersion (VAFTAD) Model
This is a graphical forecast tool produced by NCEP which has been recently added to our web site. These operational VAFTADs are maintained on our site for approximately 15 days.
The VAFTAD Sample is from Soufriere Hills. It is part of a Paper presented at the Third Caribbean/South American Regional Air Navigation Meeting (abbreviated CAR/SAM/RAN/3) entitled Operations Of The Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center.
VAFTADs are also placed on the Internet by The Air Resources Lab (ARL) Here's a link to the current VAFTAD on their site (if one is current). They also run hypothetical VAFTADs.
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