This website presents results derived from the SSTAR (Subtle Surface Thermal Anomalies Recognizer) framework, applied to a selection of volcanic systems. The map above highlights the volcanoes currently included in the near-real-time analysis. For each site, satellite-based thermal infrared observations (MODIS) are systematically processed to detect low-amplitude, spatially diffuse thermal anomalies potentially associated with subsurface volcanic processes. The methodology combines physically informed preprocessing with statistical filtering to minimize the influence of atmospheric variability, surface heterogeneity, and sensor-related effects, thereby enhancing the detection of subtle thermal signals.
The analysis is performed within a fully spatiotemporal framework, enabling the characterization of both the spatial distribution of anomalies and their temporal evolution. This approach allows for the identification of persistent or transient thermal patterns that may provide insight into changes in volcanic activity. The results are updated daily and are intended to support both research and monitoring applications; to view the results, click on a volcano on the map.
More information on the method can be found here:
- Girona, T., Realmuto, V. & Lundgren, P. Large-scale thermal unrest of volcanoes for years prior to eruption. Nat. Geosci. 14, 238–241 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00705-4
- Girona, T., L. Brenot (2026), SSTAR: A user-friendly framework for detecting and monitoring subtle thermal precursors to volcanic eruptions — application to Shishaldin, Alaska. Earth, Planets and Space. (In review).
