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Eruption of the Popocatépetl Volcano in Mexico

By Scott Bachmeier •

Soumi NPP VIIRS true-color RGB images [click to enlarge]

Soumi NPP VIIRS true-color RGB images [click to enlarge]

The Popocatépetl Volcano in Mexico began erupting at 1546 UTC on 20 January 2016 (Washington VAAC message). The volcanic plume was evident on Suomi NPP VIIRS true-color Red/Green/Blue (RGB) images on 23, 24, and 25 January, as viewed using the SSEC RealEarth web map server (above).

Nighttime images of Suomi NPP VIIRS Shortwave Infrared (3.9 µm), Longwave Infrared Window (11.45 µm), and Day/Night Band (0.7 µm) images at 0817 UTC on 25 January (below, courtesy of William Straka, SSEC) revealed the hot spot of the erupting volcano summit (orange pixels), and ample illumination from the Moon allowed the plume to be seen on the Day/Night Band image. The large areas of bright city lights from Mexico City and Pueblo (located northwest and southeast of Popocatépetl, respectively) are also very apparent on the Day/Night Band image.

Suomi NPP VIIRS Shortwave Infrared (3.9 µm), Longwave Infrared Window (11.45 µm), and Day/Night Band (0.7 µm) images [click to enlarge]

Suomi NPP VIIRS Shortwave Infrared (3.9 µm), Longwave Infrared Window (11.45 µm), and Day/Night Band (0.7 µm) images [click to enlarge]

A legacy product for use in the detection of volcanic ash plumes is the Infrared “Split-Window” (11-12 µm) brightness temperature difference product (below), which showed the plume streaming eastward to northeastward during the 24-25 January period.

Terra/Aqua MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Infrared "Split Window" (11-12 µm) Brightness Temperature Difference product images [click to enlarge]

Terra/Aqua MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Infrared “Split Window” (11-12 µm) Brightness Temperature Difference product images [click to enlarge]

Taking advantage of the multi-spectral imagery available from the MODIS and VIIRS instruments on the Terra/Aqua ans Suomi NPP satellites, quantitative products can be derived such as Ash Height, Ash Loading, Ash Effective Radius, and Ash Probability from the NOAA/CIMSS Volcanic Coud Monitoring (below).

Terra/Aqua MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Volcanic Ash Height product [click to enlarge]

Terra/Aqua MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Volcanic Ash Height product [click to enlarge]

Terra/Aqua MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Volcanic Ash Loading product [click to enlarge]

Terra/Aqua MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Volcanic Ash Loading product [click to enlarge]

Terra/Aqua MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Volcanic Ash Effective Radius product [click to enlarge]

Terra/Aqua MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Volcanic Ash Effective Radius product [click to enlarge]

Terra/Aqua MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Volcanic Ash Probability product [click to enlarge]

Terra/Aqua MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Volcanic Ash Probability product [click to enlarge]

Categories: MODIS, RealEarth, Red-Green-Blue (RGB) images, Suomi NPP, VIIRS, Volcanic activity