Images
June 20, 2009 - Ash Eruptions from Sarychev Peak, Kuril Islands
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At the northwestern end of Ostrov Matua (Matua Island), Sarychev Peak ranks among the most active volcanoes in the Kuril (or Kurile) Islands, which stretch between Hokkaido, Japan, and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. On June 12, 2009, Sarychev Peak began a series of eruptions that spread ash far and wide across the northwestern Pacific.
This image, captured by the MODIS on the Aqua satellite, shows the volcano mid-afternoon on June 15, 2009. The brown ash plumes stand out sharply compared to clouds. On this day, the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) reported that the ash from Sarychev Peak had been detected up to 1,300 nautical miles (about 2,407 kilometers) east-southeast of the volcano and 500 nautical miles (926 kilometers) west-northwest. Volcanic ash is not like the soft, fluffy ash produced by burning vegetation. It is tiny, abrasive particles of glass and rock that pose serious hazards to aircraft engines. Satellite observations of ash play a crucial role in helping meteorologists and air traffic controllers steer airplanes clear of dangerous volcanic emissions.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 06/15/2009
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
At the northwestern end of Ostrov Matua (Matua Island), Sarychev Peak ranks among the most active volcanoes in the Kuril (or Kurile) Islands, which stretch between Hokkaido, Japan, and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. On June 12, 2009, Sarychev Peak began a series of eruptions that spread ash far and wide across the northwestern Pacific.
This image, captured by the MODIS on the Aqua satellite, shows the volcano mid-afternoon on June 15, 2009. The brown ash plumes stand out sharply compared to clouds. On this day, the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) reported that the ash from Sarychev Peak had been detected up to 1,300 nautical miles (about 2,407 kilometers) east-southeast of the volcano and 500 nautical miles (926 kilometers) west-northwest. Volcanic ash is not like the soft, fluffy ash produced by burning vegetation. It is tiny, abrasive particles of glass and rock that pose serious hazards to aircraft engines. Satellite observations of ash play a crucial role in helping meteorologists and air traffic controllers steer airplanes clear of dangerous volcanic emissions.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 06/15/2009
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
