NASA MODIS Image of the Day: October 7, 2012 – Ash plume from Shiveluch, Kamchatka Peninsula, eastern Russia (afternoon overpass)
Restless Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka’s largest and most active volcanos, continued emitting ash and lava in early October, 2012. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over the region and captured this true-color image on October 4. In this image, a broad gray ash plume can be seen rising from the volcano and drifting to the southeast. According to the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), a viscous lava flow continued to pour from the northwest flank of Shiveluch’s lava dome during September 21-28. The flow was accompanied by hot avalanches and fumarolic activity. On October 4, KVERT reported that the ash plume drifting at 6,500 feet (2 km) was driven by strong northwesterly winds greater than 340 km (211 mi) away from the summit. On October 6, ash rose to 9,843 feet (3 km) and was blown 136.73 miles (220 km) to the south east. Seismic activity (tremors) was also reported on that day.
