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Minor eruptions of Popocatépetl in Mexico

By Scott Bachmeier •

GOES-16 Ash RGB (top left), Dust RGB (top right), SO2 RGB (bottom left) and Split Window Difference (bottom right) images, from 0001-2356 UTC on 27 January [click to play animated GIF | MP4]

5-minute CONUS Sector GOES-16 (GOES-East) Ash RGB, Dust RGB, SO2 RGB and Split Window Difference images (above) displayed signatures of a series of volcanic cloud pulses produced by minor eruptions of Popocatépetl on 27 January 2024. This comparison highlights the fact that the Ash RGB might not always provide the best depiction of volcanic cloud structure or transport — particularly if the ash loading of the cloud is not high (as was often the case on this day) — so a comparison with other RGB types and/or Difference Products could prove to be helpful. Diurnal changes in the temperature of the underlying ground surface can also affect the contrast between volcanic clouds and the surface in RGB imagery.

Advisories from the Washington VAAC on 27 January placed the maximum ash heights in the 20000-23000 ft range.

Categories: GOES-16, Red-Green-Blue (RGB) images, Volcanic activity