Eruption of Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

The Soufriere Hills Volcano on the island of Montserrat continues to erupt, and this true-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from the Aqua satellite on February 22, 2003, shows the thermal signature marked with a red outline. A plume of emissions—probably a mixture of smoke, ash, and water vapor—is drifting eastward from the summit. Lava domes are building up on the summit, triggering pyroclastic flows.

The volcano has been erupting off and on since 1995, when a series of long term, small-to-moderate intensity eruptions forced the evacuation of the southern half of the island. The capital city of the island was destroyed, creating social and economic upheaval. Montserrat is part of the Lesser Antilles chain of islands that have formed where the Atlantic tectonic plate and the Caribbean tectonic plate meet.

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Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published February 27, 2003
Data acquired February 22 - 22, 2003

Source:

Aqua > MODIS

Topics:

Solid Earth > Volcanoes > Eruption Dynamics

Solid Earth > Volcanoes > Volcanic Ash/Dust

Collection:

MODIS Rapid Response