This website works best with a newer web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer is not supported by this website.

CIMSS Satellite Blog

MENU

Eruption of Mount Shishaldin in the Aleutian Islands

By Scott Bachmeier •

GOES-18 SO2 RGB and Ash RGB images, 0900-1400 UTC [click to play animated GIF | MP4]

GOES-18 (GOES-West) SO2 RGB and Ash RGB images (above) showed the southward drift of a pair of volcanic clouds produced by an eruption of Mount Shishaldin that began at 0908 UTC on 14 July 2023. The initial higher-altitude volcanic cloud likely contained moderate concentrations of SO2 (denoted by brighter shades of yellow in the SO2 RGB images) — while the second lower-altitude volcanic cloud likely contained small concentrations of ash (shades of pink in the Ash RGB images).

The difference between the 2 volcanic clouds was evident in a toggle between SO2 RGB and Ash RGB images at 1200 UTC (below).

GOES-18 SO2 RGB and Ash RGB images at 1200 UTC [click to enlarge]

In a toggle between Suomi-NPP VIIRS Day/Night Band (0.7 µm) and Infrared Window (11.45 µm) images valid at 1245 UTC (below), the bright glow of hot lava at the volcano summit could be seen in the Day/Night Band image — while the initial volcanic cloud had largely dissipated, and was no longer exhibiting cold infrared brightness temperatures.

Suomi-NPP VIIRS Day/Night Band (0.7 µm) and Infrared Window (11.45 µm) images valid at 1245 UTC [click to enlarge]

Categories: GOES-18, Red-Green-Blue (RGB) images, Suomi NPP, VIIRS, Volcanic activity