June 10, 2014 - Ash plume from Pavlof, Alaska (afternoon overpass)

Ash plume from Pavlof, Alaska (afternoon overpass)

On June 2, 2014 the low-level eruption of Alaska’s Pavlof volcano prompting the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)to raise the alert level from “Orange” to “Red”. Seismic tremors increased, and pilots spotted ash clouds rising to about 22,000 feet (6,706 m) above sea level.

The Aqua satellite passed over the Alaskan Peninsula at 23:40 UTC (7:40 p.m. EDT) that same day, allowing the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying aboard to capture a true-color image of the eruption. A thick gray ash plume rises from the snow-covered Pavlof, rises and drifts about 80 miles (128 km) to the east. By June 3, the activity had reduced enough to prompt the AVO to reduce the alert level from Red down to Orange.

As of June 9, the eruption continued with weak, intermittent seismic events and elevated surface temperatures near the caldera, indicative of lava flow. Pavlof is the region’s most active volcano. Its last active eruptive phase ended in July of 2013.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 6/2/2014
Resolutions: 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC