Space imagery reveals specific features of volcanic eruptions

26 June 2009

Space images became the basis for Sarychev Peak volcanic activity monitoring. Sarychev Peak is a young volcano, from geological point of view, located within the Main Kuril Ridge. It is placed inside a four kilometer collapse caldera of Matua island.

Sarychev Peak eruption started on the night from 11 to 12 of June. The volcano cannot be observed by ground-based instrumental methods. That is why space images by Terra / Aqua (MODIS sensors) and NOAA (AVHRR sensor) turned out to be the only source of information about the eruption.

"We noticed high temperature anomaly as early as June 11, " said Marina Chibisova, duty operator of SVERT Team (Sakhalin volcanic eruption reaction team). "After the images analysis we saw that there was a powerful explosion on the night from 11 to 12 of June. Ash cloud spread in all directions while normally it goes to one direction. This means a considerable power of explosion ".

The most powerful ash blowout to the altitude of 13 km was registered on June 13. Volcanic blowouts are a threat to air transportation in the region. Therefore, satellite information became of vital importance for provision of air traffic safety.

The experience of monitoring of previous Sarychev Peak volcano eruptions shows that its activation can last for many days and weeks. The June eruption of the volcano was recognized the strongest in the whole history of observations of volcanoes in the Kuril Islands. It is worth to note that the volcano did not show any activity since 1976. During the volcano inspection in August 2008, there was registered intensive stationary steam and gas activity but no traces of revitalization were found.

Currently, in the Russian Far East, besides Sarychev Peak, there are four more big volcanoes in the eruption phase. They are Shiveluch, Koryaksky, Gorely, Ebeko. Satellite imagery steps out as the most important tool of volcanic activity monitoring.

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Source: ScanEx