Dark strip on Saunders Island

Satellite image from the 29th December 2015 shows what appears to be a dark strip on Saunders Island extending from the summit area of Michael Volcano to the eastern shore of the island. Based on the image posted in my last post, this suggests that a lava flow from an eruption may have occurred. To be able to determine whether it really is a lava flow, I need a clear image of Saunders Island from Landsat 8.

Has a lava flow occurred on Saunders Island? SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Also, an emission appears to have originated from Zavodovski Island in a satellite image from 28th December 2015.

What appears to be an emission from Zavodovski Island. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Dark patch near the summit of Michael Volcano

In the satellite pic of Saunders Island from the 25th December 2015, a new dark patch is present at the "Old Crater" located immediately southeast of the summit crater on Michael Volcano. This suggests that some new activity had taken place on that part of the volcano. Judging from the colour of the dark patch through the mist, this suggests that (in my opinion) the activity may have been effusive or simply just new fumaroles. As the eastern half of the island is covered in clouds this cannot be clearly determined what took place there.

What appears to be some form of new activity just to the southeast of the summit crater. SOURCE: Landsat 8/USGS/NASA.

Grey area on Saunders Island

In the satellite image of Saunders Island from the 23rd December 2015, I noticed what appears to be a grey area on the east side of the island extending from the volcano to the shoreline. Although it is not easy to explain for sure what it is, I'm not ruling out an ash stained slope or even a probable ash plume.

Notice the grey area on the east side of Saunders Island, is that ashfall? or even a probable ash plume? SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Oh and also, I've previously forgot to post an image of Saunders Island from the 23rd November 2015 covered in clouds but showing a vapour plume being emitted from Mount Michael.

Vapour emission from Mount Michael on 23rd November 2015. SOURCE: Landsat 8/USGS/NASA.

Some possible December emissions

Some possible emissions look present in the satellite images of Saunders Island in images from 1st, 5th, and 19th December 2015. In the image from 1st December, there appears to be a white plume originating from the summit of Mount Michael and drifting west. In the image from 5th December, there appears to be a dirty white or light grey plume originating from the same area and drifting northeast. And in the image from 19th December, a white plume is drifting towards the west. It is not clear what exactly is going on due to the quality of the images.

Saunders Island 1st December 2015. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

Saunders Island 5th December 2015. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Saunders Island 19th December 2015. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Dark patch on Saunders Island Nov 2015

Satellite image from 20th November 2015 shows a clear dark patch on Saunders Island indicating possible activity at the summit area of Mount Michael. Whether this is related to volcanic activity or just high ground temperatures is unclear.

Dark patch indicating possible activity. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Lava inside the crater of Mount Michael!

In the clear day satellite image of 6th October 2015, I discovered what is the most concrete evidence of volcanic activity on Mount Michael to date. The image clearly shows the presence of lava inside the summit crater. In my view, this is either a lava lake or it could be intensive strombolian activity inside the crater.

Definitely some activity on Michael Volcano. SOURCE: Landsat 8/USGS/NASA.

In other images, a dark area is present on the peninsula of Candlemas Island which indicates elevated ground temperatures of volcanic origin or fumarolic activity, and a thermal image shows what appears to be a slight thermal anomaly on Montagu Island.

Hot spot again detected by satellite

A hot spot has been detected on Saunders Island in the data provided by the MODVOLC website dated 30th September 2015. This is most likely an indicator of volcanic activity on Mount Michael as the South Sandwich Islands in the south Atlantic Ocean lacks human activity. A hot spot was previously detected on Saunders Island during the 28th, the 30th, and the 31st August 2015.

Thermal anomaly detected on Mount Michael by satellite on 30th September 2015. SOURCE: MODVOLC.

Hot spot detected by satellite

A thermal anomaly has been detected on Mount Michael on Saunders Island as seen in today's data from the MODVOLC website. This 9 times out of 10 proves that volcanic activity of some kind is going on. As the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited and very rarely visited, it is very unlikely that this thermal anomaly which was detected in satellite data could be connected to human activity.

Thermal anomaly on Mount Michael as seen in satellite data. SOURCE: MODVOLC.

Clear indicator that an eruption occurred

In a satellite image from 26th August 2015 obtained from the Earth Explorer website, I noticed that the east flank of Mount Michael volcano was stained grey which strongly indicates that an eruption took place. I am under the opinion that this was ashfall from an eruption which may have took place maybe a few days to a week ago.

Ash stained east slope of the volcano on Saunders Island. SOURCE: Landsat 8/USGS/NASA.

Dark area on Saunders Island

In the satellite image from 24th August 2015 a dark patch appears around the summit area of Mount Michael along with a dark strip which appears to originate from the dark patch and ending at the eastern side of the island. Although most of the dark patch could be the shadow from the peak, it looks as though something was happening and I wouldn't rule out an eruption.

Ash emission on 24th August 2015: SOURCE: NASA.

New emission detected

Satellite image from the 26th May 2015 shows what is likely to be an emission originating from the crater of Mount Michael on Saunders Island. It would not surprise me if that was an eruption because the plume stands out against the clouds in the area and it looks like there may be some ash content there. At first the plume drifts towards the southeast before being blown east-southeast. There is also some faint colour difference in the plume compared to the clouds around.

Possible eruption on 26th May 2015?. SOURCE: NASA.

Dark strip on Mount Michael

The satellite image of 1st May 2015 shows what appears to be a dark strip on Mount Michael plus some kind of emission drifting northeast.

What appears to be a dark strip and a possible emission in this mostly cloudy image of Saunders Island from 1st May 2015. IMAGE: NASA.

Possible plume and ash

Satellite image from 19th April 2015 on the EOSDIS website showed a clear view of Saunders Island and what appeared to be a plume rising from Mount Michael Volcano. As in most cases, the satellite image wasn't clear enough to determine whether or not it was an eruption plume.

On the Earth Explorer website, a satellite image of Saunders Island from the 20th April 2015 showed what was mostly a cloudy day but the southwest portion of the island was visible. It showed what appeared to be a cloud with some possible ash content immediately to the west-southwest of the summit area of Mount Michael drifting southwest bound.

Darkened strip to the northeast of the summit area of Mount Michael, was it an ash plume? 19th April 2015. IMAGE: NASA.

Possible ash drifting WSW-SW? 20th April 2015. IMAGE: Landsat 8/USGS/NASA.

Darkened area on Mount Michael

A darkened area was visible on the summit area of Mount Michael in an image from 3rd April 2015. In images from 22nd March and 2nd April the darkened area was also visible.

I am under the opinion at this point that this could be no more than increased surface temperatures at the crater area. The coastal areas around Saunders Island is also free of snow and ice.

Darkened area at the summit of Mount Michael is visible in this image from 3rd April 2015. SOURCE: NASA.

While I was away

Just a quick post and then I can be up to date. But as I was on holiday during late February to early March I was unable to check the EOSDIS website plus I was busy during most of March so sorry for the delay in this.

While I didn't see anything out of the ordinary in the image archives, I did see a suspected plume from Zavodovski in an image from 20th February 2015 although it could've been just a wind current given that it was mostly cloudy in that image.

Emissions on two islands

On 28th January 2015 satellite images revealed what appeared to be emissions coming from Zavodovski and Saunders islands. It is not easy to tell whether an eruption took place or not.

In my view, the emissions originating from Mount Curry on Zavodovski Island and Mount Michael on Saunders Island could possibly be steam and gas emissions.

What appears to be a steam and gas emission on Mount Michael on 28th January 2015. SOURCE: NASA.

What appears to be an emission of some sort on Mount Curry on 28th January 2015. SOURCE: NASA.