Gallery: Vulcan's View 7: Volcanoes Seen From Space
01nyamuragira-congo
It has been a busier than expected week, so I've been putting off another post thanks to that and the relative quiet in the realm of volcanoes as of late. Today I have a new *Vulcan's View* with some great images of volcanoes as seen from orbiting platforms - many of them taken in the last few weeks. If you're looking for a full summary of the week's activity, remember, you can find that on the USGS/Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program's *[Weekly Volcanic Activity Report](http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?wvarweek=20120118)*. Enjoy! Nyamuragira, Congo ------------------ Last week, when I [highlighted some volcano observatories](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/01/watching-the-eruptions-volcano-observatories-around-the-world/) around the world in marking the 100th anniversary of the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, I was accused of not really covering the whole planet, so I thought I'd atone for some of that. I did get a pleasant email from a fellow at the [Goma Volcano Observatory](http://www.wovo.org/0203.html) in the Congo that watches over Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira, so it seemed an appropriate place to start. The [lava flows](http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/view_news/4306/Nyamuragira-volcano-DR-Congo-update-eruption-continues-with-lava-fountains-and-lava-flow.html) continue from [the current eruption](http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?wvarweek=20120111#nyamura) of Nyamuragira and the recent images of the volcano show the lava flow, especially in the infrared (see above). Check out [some of these recent pictures](http://www.photovolcanica.com/VolcanoInfo/Nyamuragira/Nyamuragira.html) of the eruption from *Photovolcanica* as well. *Image: The lava flow from Nyamuragira in the Congo seen in late January 2012. NASA, courtesy of R. Simmon.*
02emi-koussi-chad
Emi Koussi, Chad ---------------- A [great juxtaposition of different geologic features](http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=76894) was published by the *NASA Earth Observatory* that highlighted a meteor crater and a volcano. The volcano, Emi Koussi, is one we've seen before on this blog as it appeared as [a Mystery Volcano Photo](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/03/mystery-volcano-photo-19/) a few years back. [Emi Koussi](http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0205-021) is a relatively rare type of volcano - a pyroclastic shield - where volcanic deposits from explosive eruptions have spread out laterally and produced a low, broad edifice. Located in Chad, Emi Koussi is still considered potentially active, but the date of the most recent volcanism is unclear - the low rates of weathering in Chad mean it could be thousands of years (or more) since the last eruption. *Image: Emi Koussi (right) and the Aorounga Impact crater (left) in Chad seen in a November 26, 2011 image. Courtesy of the [NASA Earth Observatory](http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=76894)*
03jebel-zubair-red-sea-2
Jebel Zubair, Red Sea --------------------- The [eruption at Jebel Zubair](http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?wvarweek=20120111#zubair) seems to have subsided considerably and without that pesky plume in the way, we can [see clearly the new island](http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=76950) that has formed in the Red Sea. The island looks pretty substantial, so unlikely to be quickly eroded by the wave/storm action in the Red Sea. In fact, when you look at the Zubair Group as a whole, the new island is pretty significant in terms of area - it shows [how quickly you can produce an island](http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/2337-red-sea-island.html) when it is in a volcanically-active area. Also notice in this image how many volcanic cones there are - every island has a crater on it and some have multiple craters visible. The large island at the bottom looks to have fresh, dark lava flows defining its coast, while the lighter-colored island to the north looks more heavily weathering and possibly fringed with reefs (a typical lifecycle of a volcanic island). *Image: The new island formed in the Zubair Group in the Red Sea, as seen on January 15, 2012. Courtesy of the [NASA Earth Observatory](http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=76950)*
04turrialba-costa-rica
Turrialba, Costa Rica --------------------- I was asked to write part of the caption for [a recent NASA Earth Observatory image](http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=77021) of the recent developments at Costa Rica's Turrialba, so I won't get too indepth here (you should check out the NASA EO page). However, Turrialba did [see a new vent open](http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?wvarweek=20120118#turrial) on the opposite side of the active crater - possibly for surprising reasons. If you'd like some entertainment for the next 5 minutes, check out [this classic video from the 1950s about Turrialba](http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/videos/videoturrialba.htm) posted by OVSICORI, the Costa Rican geologic survey *Image: A false color image of Turrialba in Costa Rica seen on January 22, 2012. Courtesy of the [NASA Earth Observatory](http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=77021)*
05lascar-chile
Láscar, Chile ------------- Most of the volcanic activity in Chile over the past few years has been centered in the central to southern part of the country - places like Chaiten, Puyehue-Cordon Caulle, Hudson - but now a volcano in the more northern part of the country is [getting some attention](http://www.sernageomin.cl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=846&Itemid=1). Láscar has [shown signs](http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?wvarweek=20120104#lascar) that the volcano may be coming back to life after 4-5 years of quiet. The last few eruptions over the last 20 years have been explosive events caused by [dome extrusion and collapse](http://www.springerlink.com/content/ydp0bd289441y0rf/) so if any activity were to commence, we might expect more of the same. [Láscar](http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1505-10=) has been [outfitted with new monitoring equipment](http://noticias.terra.cl/nacional/anuncian-nuevos-equipos-de-monitoreo-para-volcan-lascar,86962d1441ab4310VgnVCM3000009af154d0RCRD.html) and the Chilean government is [using UAVs to watch the volcanoes](http://noticias.123.cl/noticias/20120123_fffcf2fa404c588381fadf8bf235cac8.htm) of the country as well. OVDAS even added [a second webcam](http://www2.sernageomin.cl/ovdas/ovdas7/ovdas66.php) (at the bottom of the page) to watch Láscar if it does start erupting. *Image: Láscar in a [very early NASA EO image](http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=723) showing the plume from Lascar during a 2000 eruption of the volcano. Courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory*
06kizimen-russia-2
Kizimen, Russia --------------- As usual, the volcanoes of Kamchatka in far eastern Russia take up a lot of space in the GVP Weekly Volcanic Activity Report. [Kizimen](http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?wvarweek=20120118#kizimen) (seen above), [Karymsky](http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?wvarweek=20120118#karymsky) and [Shiveluch](http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?wvarweek=20120118#shiveluc) continue to puff along with small explosions and continued dome growth. It would be more surprising to see a week without a Kamchatka update than these with multiple volcanoes active simultaneously. *Image: The steam-and-ash plume and a lava flow on Kizimen in Kamchatka as seen on January 11, 2012. Courtesy of the [NASA Earth Observatory](http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=76945).*
07ambrym-vanuatu
Ambrym, Vanuatu --------------- Off in the south Pacific, Vanuatu's [Ambrym](http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0507-04=) continues to release a significant water-and-sulfur plume from the active lava lake on [the volcano](http://www.geohazards.gov.vu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=14). This mix of water vapor and volcanic gases can do a number on vegetation around the volcano, especially if the emissions mix with fog/clouds to form "[vog](http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/1996/96_05_29.html)" that can damage leaves. Both [Ambrym and Yasur](http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=37419) are consistently active volcanoes along the Vanuatu island chain. *Image: Water vapor and sulfur dioxide plume from Ambrym in Vanuatu seen on two days in late January 2012. NASA, courtesy of R. Simmon.*
08big-island-hawaii
Hawaii, United States --------------------- Over the last week, the [lava lake at the summit crater at Halema'uma'u on Kilauea](http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php) has become [quite active](http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?wvarweek=20120118#kilauea) - and the USGS [released some impressive video footage](http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Kilauea_becoming_more_active_.html) to prove it. Pu'u O'o is also seeing lava lake activity, with [a small lava lake](http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/archive/2011/Mar/20120126_torr_0005A_L.jpg) filling the central part of the crater floor. Remember, there is more than just Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawai'i, which is the youngest of the Hawaiian Island chain. Five volcanoes make up the island - (from oldest to youngest) [Kohala](http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kohala/), [Mauna Kea](http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1302-03-), [Hualalai](http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1302-04-), [Mauna Loa](http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1302-02=) and [Kilauea](http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1302-01-) and one new volcano ([Loihi](http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1302-00-)) sits just offshore. All of the volcanoes are considered potentially active except Kohala, but the most vigorous volcanism is on the southeast side of the island as the Pacific Plate crawls over the [Hawaii hotspot plume](http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/Hawaiian.html). *Image: All 6 volcanoes associated with the Big Island as seen in 2003. Courtesy of the [NASA Earth Observatory](http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=3510).*
