The Suitability of a Remote Microwave Radiometer for Detecting Volcanic Activity

While Thermal Infrared (TIR) sensors are standard for monitoring volcanic activity, their efficacy is severely compromised by meteorological clouds and dense volcanic ash. To overcome these optical limitations, we present the first ground-based application of a passive microwave radiometer for continuous volcano monitoring. Operating in the 10–12 GHz band, our Total Power Microwave Receiver is stationed 12 km from Mount Etna’s active craters to measure thermal emissions from eruptive hotspots. Unlike traditional TIR imaging, this low-cost, automated system exploits the atmospheric transparency of microwave wavelengths, enabling uninterrupted observation regardless of weather or solar illumination. We detail the system’s design and report its successful detection of volcanic phenomena during the 2023–2025 eruptive cycles, including the transit of a high-temperature ash cloud that triggered a significant radiometric peak. Our findings demonstrate that fixed-point microwave radiometry provides a reliable thermal signature of eruptive activity, offering a pioneering and highly accessible tool for the next generation of global volcanic early warning systems.