Satellite history at UW-Madison comes full circle with award

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station photographed this view of Pavlof Volcano in the Aleutian Arc of Alaska on May 18, 2013. The volcano jetted lava into the air and spewed an ash cloud 20,000 feet high. Photo: NASA Michael Pavolonis thinks of himself as a volcano guy. As a physical scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), Pavolonis developed a satellite-based system to detect volcanic eruptions across the world. It enables more timely and accurate volcanic ash cloud advisories and is now used by NOAA Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers in Washington D.C. and Alaska. "Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers are the front line of action in warning about volcanic-cloud hazards, and Mike's quantitative retrievals, corresponding training materials, and visits are in high demand," writes Marianne Guffanti, a U.S. Geological Survey volcanic ash expert, in a letter nominating Pavolonis for the 2015 NOAA David Johnson Award. Pavolonis was chosen this month for the honor, sponsored by the nonprofit National Space Club and awarded in memory of the late Johnson, first assistant administrator of NOAA's Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS).