Two plumes in the South Sandwich Islands

In the satellite images from the 4th December 2017 two plumes are present originating from Zavodovski Island and Saunders Island respectively. On Zavodovski Island a whitish plume is seen drifting northeast originating from Mount Curry, and on Saunders Island a dirty white to light grey plume originating from Mount Michael is seen drifting east-northeast to northeast. In my view the plume from Mount Curry is most likely to be a gas plume but I wouldn't rule out the possibility of some slight ash content, and the plume from Mount Michael may have some possible ash content.

Zavodovski Island on the 4th December 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Saunders Island on the 4th December 2017. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

Gas emission on Saunders Island

Satellite image from 15th October 2017 shows what appears to be a gas emission originating from Mount Michael on Saunders Island. Gas emissions originating from Saunders Island also showed up in satellite images from the 4th and 5th October. Possible aerosols drifting from Saunders Island showed in satellite images from 17th, 19th, and 20th October.

In my view, this is gas related which may interpret elevated activity on Michael Volcano.

Gas emission originating from Mount Michael on 15th October 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Magnitude 6 earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands

A strong magnitude 6 earthquake struck in the South Sandwich Islands on the 4th September 2017 at 08:07 UTC. The epicenter of the quake was reported to be about 149km north-northeast of Bristol Island with a depth of 35km.

Magnitude 6 earthquake on 4th September 2017. SOURCE: USGS.

Plume originating from Saunders Island

Image from 18th August 2017 shows what appears to be a gas plume originating from Mount Michael drifting in an easterly direction. In another image from 10th August, a plume containing aerosols originating from Mount Michael is seen drifting northeast.

Plume drifting northeast from Saunders Island during 10th August 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Gas plume from Saunders Island during 18th August 2017. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

Pumice raft near South Sandwich Islands?

In a satellite image from 9th August 2017 I saw what appears to be a large grey patch (trending NW-SE) in the sea to the east of Zavodovski Island and to the north-northeast of Visokoi Island. This suspiciously looks like a pumice raft but I'm not 100% sure. If it is, then this means that an undersea eruption must've taken place most likely originating from Protector Shoal Volcano, an active undersea volcano located northwest of Zavodovski Island.

UPDATE 12/8/17: After seeking expert opinions, I've declared this inconclusive.

Possible Pumice raft on 9th August 2017? SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

Possible eruption on Mount Curry

A light grey plume is seen drifting in a northerly direction in the satellite image from 13th July 2017 originating from Mount Curry Volcano on the northern side of Zavodovski Island. As this plume looks like it is coming from the crater area of Mount Curry, I am under the opinion that there's a good chance that this could be an ash plume indicating that an eruption took place.

Possible ash plume from Zavodovski drifting northwards on 13th July 2017. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

Emissions from Saunders Island

Satellite image from 5th June 2017 shows a white plume originating from Saunders Island drifting south. The plume also appears in an image from 9th June drifting west-southwest and again on 10th June drifting west. The likelihood is that it's more likely to be a gas or vapour emission. No thermal anomaly was detected at around that time.

Emission from Saunders Island on the 5th June 2017. SOURCE: Suomi NPP/VIIRS/NASA.

Zavodovski Island catch ups May 2017

As I've been working on another project since the beginning of the year, I was too focused to be able to write articles on emissions from Mount Curry Volcano on Zavodovski island. Now that I'm finished, I thought I'd make a catch up post. While I won't go into any detail, instead I will post a series of satellite images below.

1st January 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

3rd January 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

6th January 2017. SOURCE: Suomi NPP/VIIRS/NASA.

7th January 2017. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

14th January 2017. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

16th January 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

21st January 2017. SOURCE: Suomi NPP/VIIRS/NASA.

25th January 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

27th January 2017. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

8th February 2017. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

16th February 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

13th March 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

23rd March 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

3rd April 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

6.5 Magnitude earthquake in South Sandwich Islands

A strong magnitude 6.5 earthquake has hit the South Sandwich Islands on the 10th May 2017 at 23:23 UTC. The epicenter of the quake was reported to be about 94km east-northeast of Visokoi Island with a depth of 10km.

6.5 magnitude earthquake on 10th May 2017. SOURCE: USGS.

Dark areas spotted on Saunders and Bristol islands

Satellite image of Saunders Island on the 12th March 2017 shows a dark spot on the summit area of Mount Michael indicating that some sort of activity has occurred, probably an eruption or perhaps some increased fumarolic activity. No thermal anomaly however was detected. The dark spot on Mount Michael was also slightly visible in satellite imagery. In the following days, cloud cover obscured views.

Dark spot on Mount Michael on the 12th March 2017. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

In the satellite image of a partially visible Bristol Island on the 17th March 2017, a tip of a lava flow is visible at the northern part of the island. Did a new eruption recently occur or has the heat from the potentially still hot lava flow of last year's eruption melted the surface snow? No recent thermal anomaly was detected.

Visible area of lava. Recent activity or still hot 2016 lava flow? SOURCE: Landsat 8/USGS/NASA.

Possible ash emission on Zavodovski

Satellite image from 18th January 2017 shows a plume being emitted from Mount Curry Volcano on Zavodovski Island. In my opinion, the plume appears to have some possible ash content and it's possible an eruption might've occurred.

Mount Curry emitting plume with possible ash content. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.