Reaching new heights: the evolution of volcanic plume information

Volcanic plume height is perhaps the most important pieces of information when simulating dispersal of volcanic emissions. Despite this significance, plume height data are often ambiguous. The term plume height can have multiple different meanings, such as plume top or spreading height, and can be determined through numerous methods, from direct observation to interpretation of satellite imagery, to deposit analysis, each with their own implicit uncertainties. Here, issues around reporting plume height and the impact of unclear estimates are presented, alongside thoughts for making plume height data more consistent to enable better hazard analysis for volcanic emissions in the future.