# An Overview of Infrared Remote Sensing of Volcanic Activity
## 6 Prospects for the Future
[119] simulated Hyspiri data with regard to its observation of volcanic activity and showed promising results as compared with ASTER TIR data, given a smaller pixel size (60 m) and higher saturation temperature (700-900 K); its TIR bands will also have an improved temporal resolution (five days at the equator) [28; 118]. [PERSON] [120] sums up the optimism regarding Hyspiri: \"There is no current thermal infrared sensor that combines multiple bands needed for temperature-emissivity separation, a sub-100 m spatial resolution, and a frequent repeat interval with global coverage, which are necessary to answer a wide range of Earth science studies related to surface composition, hydrology, and volcanology\" (p. 1). Concerns remain however, as to whether the saturation temperature of the Hyspiri MIR bands will be high enough to prevent saturation over the most radiant lava flows [118]. Another project that shows potential relates to the European Commission's Earth Observation Programme: Copernicus. As part of this programme, the Sentinel-3 satellite mission is launching two satellites with infrared Earth observation capabilities (Sentinel-3A was launched in early 2016 and Sentinel-3B is due for launch in 2017) to provide continuity to the ATSR and AATSR range. The primary aim of Sentinel-3, and its Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometers (SLSTR), is for monitoring ocean and land surface temperatures; however, given their SWIR, MIR and TIR imaging capabilities, they will also provide continuity in volcanic observations. The chief advantages of the SLSTRs are a saturation temperature of 675 K and an equatorial revisit time of half a day (when both satellites are considered); thermal anomaly detection algorithms have been developed and tested for these sensors [121; 122]. For the monitoring of volcanic activity, high temporal resolution data, ideally at a sub-daily resolution, such as that provided by geostationary satellites, is particularly useful, and there are prospects that show promise in this regard. The GOES R-Series, for example (the first satellite of which was launched in November 2016), possesses the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), which will retain the GOES high temporal resolution while also improving current capabilities, with a superior spatial resolution (0.5-2.0 km) and more bands (including a new SWIR band) [123]. Japan's equivalent satellites, Himawari-8 (launched in 2015) and -9 (launched in November 2016), each possess a sensor largely comparable in terms of features to the ABI [124]. Similarly, the European Meteosat Third Generation Mission, the first spacecraft of which are due for launch from 2020, will possess more bands on its SEVERI replacement, the Flexible Combined Imager (FCI). FCI's short wave and near-infrared bands will have a 1-km spatial resolution and a temporal resolution of 10 min, as compared with 15 min at present [125]. These geostationary satellites will also have the capability for rapid scans at times of enhanced activity, and in the case of GOES-R, this may be up to every 30 s [123; 124]. Additionally, prospects for the more distant future for instantaneous monitoring are equally promising with Meteosat fourth generation satellites envisioned to be active from around 2035 [126]. These systems will possess an increasingly hyperspectral range of instruments and an even greater spatial and temporal resolution, ideal for monitoring the rapidly changing surfaces associated with volcanoes. [PERSON] et al. [102] argue that in the future, data from surface sensors, in addition to those from satellites, should form part of any automatic system for identifying volcanic activity. They suggest that had this been the case for the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption, attention would have been focused on the eruption sooner, rather than after the eruption was underway. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [81], in contrast, envisage most development in the coming years to relate to small satellites launched privately and at less expense than their larger counterparts.