The Role of Multi-Sensor Satellite Remote Sensing in Characterizing Volcanic Plumes Relevant to Climate Forcing

Volcanic eruptions represent a significant natural forcing mechanism within the Earth’s climate system, capable of inducing profound atmospheric perturbations. Major explosive events inject vast quantities of volcanic ash and trace gases into the atmosphere, among which sulfur dioxide (SO2) has the biggest influence on climate variability. Once injected into the atmosphere, the SO2 oxidizes to form sulphate aerosols which can produce negative radiative forcing and cool the Earth’s surface. At the same time, fine ash particles block sunlight and create a “dust veil” that further changes atmospheric temperatures. These complex cooling and warming effects highlight the need for accurate characterization of volcanic emissions. In this context, satellite remote sensing provides continuous global observations, making it an essential tool for monitoring volcanic emissions and assessing their long-term climatic impacts. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of multi-sensor satellite observations to trace emissions from major volcanic eruptions. To highlight the potential of modern satellite observations to characterize volcanic emissions, we exploit data spanning the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from the ultraviolet (UV) to thermal infrared (TIR). We examine three key eruptions from the past decade representing this new era of spaceborne monitoring: Raikoke (Russia, 2019), Kīlauea (USA, 2025), and Hayli Gubbi (Ethiopia, 2025). These case studies demonstrate how contemporary satellite instruments deliver reliable data worldwide, which is crucial for both the scientific community and society in assessing the climatic impacts of volcanism.