“Hot spot” from the eruption of the Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador
GOES-13 (left) and GOES-12 (right) 3.9 µm shortwave IR images
McIDAS images of GOES-13 and GOES-12 3.9 µm shortwave IR (IR channel 2) data (above) revealed the “hot spot” (yellow to red color enhancement) due to the eruption of the Tungurahua volcano in the South American country of Ecuador on 04 December 2010. The summit of the volcano is located south-southeast of the city of Latacunga (station identifier SELT). According to an ash advisory issued by the Washington DC Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), ash was estimated to be extending upward to altitudes about 26,000 feet around this time.
Note that at times there are sight differences in the size and intensity of the volcano hot spot, due to the different viewing angles from the GOES-13 satellite (located at 75º West longitude) and the GOES-12 satellite (located at 60º West longitude). Also note the improved image navigation and registration (INR) with GOES-13, which keeps the volcano hot spot centered at the same location during the image animation.