NASA MODIS Image of the Day: April 21, 2012 – Ash on snow from Shiveluch, Kamchatka Peninsula, eastern Russia
The explosive activity of Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka’s largest and most active volcanoes, continued in mid-April, 2012, frequently tossing plumes of ash high into the air. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of gray ash covering the white snow around the volcano on April 18 at 2:05 UTC (2:50 p.m. local time). According to RIA Novosti, scientists reported a strong eruption on April 16 at 17:59 UTC (5:59 a.m. April 17 local time) which sent a column of ashes as high as 9,500 meters (over 31,000 feet). The estimate made by the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) was more moderate, who reported a plume up to 7,500 meters (24,600 feet) on April 16-17. KVERT but also reported ash rising to 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) every other day of the week. The plumes extended about 74 mi (120 km) to the north, east and northeast on April 14-15 and 17-18. In addition to ash, lava continues to effuse from the crater, accompanied by steam and gas. The 3,283-meter (10,771-foot) Shiveluch volcano increased activity in May 2009, and has been spewing ash and lava periodically since that time. This activity has changed the shape of the volcano, steepening the slopes and increasing crater size by about 50%. The Aviation Color Code remains at Orange, and KVERT advises that ash explosions up to 10,000 meters (32,800 feet) could occur at any time.
