Ash clouds resulting from volcanic eruptions are a serious hazard to
aviation safety. In Alaska alone, there are over 40 active volcanoes
whose eruptions may affect more than 40,000 flights using the
great circle polar routes each year. The clouds
are especially problematic because they are invisible to radar and
nearly impossible to distinquish from weather clouds. The Arctic
Region Supercomputing Center and the Alaska Volcano Observatory have
collaborated to develop a system for predicting and visualizing the
movement of volcanic ash clouds when an eruption occurs. The output from
the model is combined with a digtal elevation model to produce a realistic
view of the ash cloud which may be examined interactively from any desired
point of view at any time during the prediction period. This paper
describes the visualization techniques employed in the system and
the process used to produce an animated video flyby of the 1989 Mount
Redoubt eruption which caused complete engine failure on a 747 passenger jet.
Keywords: visualization, simulation, animation, aviation, volcanoes.