The Volcanosonde is an integrated sensor package for volcanic plume data collection including gas detectors, particle counters and a real-time telemetry system, developed by the Space Systems Lab in the frame of the VOLANDO project. Derived from our stratospheric radiosonde design, the Volcanosonde is a successful case of technology transfer from aerospace to the environmental monitoring sector.
On June 25, 2024, Alessandro flew to Mt. Etna to join Stefano, Lorenzo and Dario of INGV for the first field test of the Volcanosonde. The team collected excellent data, confirming and exceeding the system’s performance expectations and opening the way to the forthcoming operational use on Etna’s volcanic plumes.
