Thermal surveillance of active volcanoes

The author has identified the following significant results. There are three significant scientific results of the discovery of 48 pinpoint anomalies on the upper flanks of Mt. Rainier: (1) Many of these points may actually be the location of fumarolic vapor emission or warm ground considerably below the summit crater. (2) Discovery of these small anomalies required specific V/H scanner settings for precise elevation on Mt. Rainier's flank, to avoid smearing the anomalies to the point of nonrecognition. Several past missions flown to map the thermal anomalies of the summit area did not/detect the flank anomalies. (3) This illustrates the value of the aerial IR scanner as a geophysical tool suited to specific problem-oriented missions, in contrast to its more general value in a regional or reconnaissance anomaly-mapping role