Saunders Island catch ups December 2016

As I was busy at the time I wasn't able to get round to this post sooner, but a thermal anomaly was detected on Saunders Island at times indicating that some sort of activity on Mount Michael Volcano went on since November. According to data on the MODVOLC website, a thermal anomaly was detected on Mount Michael during the days 3rd, 20th, 21st, and 24th November and most recently, on the 17th December.

Most recent hotspot detection on Saunders Island as of 17th December. SOURCE: MODVOLC.

Two emissions: Saunders Island and Zavodovski Island 17/12/16

On 17th December 2016, two plumes appear in satellite images. One originating from Zavodovski Island, and the other from Saunders Island.

In the image of Zavodovski Island, a white plume originating from the summit crater of Mount Curry is seen drifting in a south-southwesterly direction before dispersing. It's more likely to be a gas plume although I wouldn't rule out the possibility of some slight ash content.

A plume originating from Mount Curry on Zavodovski Island is drifting then dispersing to the south-southwest. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

In the image of Saunders Island, a greyish plume originating from the summit crater of Mount Michael is seen drifting towards the northeast. A thermal anomaly was also detected on the summit area of Mount Michael. This indicates that it's likely to be an eruption occurring on Mount Michael Volcano.

What is likely to be an ash plume from Mount Michael on Saunders Island. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Ash emission on Zavodovski Island

An ash plume originating from Zavodovski Island is visible in a satellite image from 9th December. The ash plume is seen drifting south-southwest but judging from the image it doesn't look like that it's originating from the summit crater of Mount Curry, but from the Asphyxia Plain area of the island. So we could be looking at a possible flank eruption. As the plume is greyish in colour, in my opinion that's what gives it away.

Possible flank eruption on Zavodovski Island on the 9th December 2016. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Gas emissions continue on Zavodovski

Plumes drifting from Mount Curry on Zavodovski Island continue to be visible in satellite images during various days. It's likely that they are gas emissions although I wouldn't rule out the possibility of the odd plume having some slight ash content in it.

Zavodovski as of 1st November 2016 emitting a gas plume with some possible slight ash content. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

Gas emissions on Zavodovski

Between 17th September to 10th October 2016, satellite images picked up a gas plume during various days drifting from Zavodovski Island. Here is an example image below.

Gas plume from Zavodovski on the 3rd October 2016. SOURCE: Aqua/MODIS/NASA.

Suspected ash plume from Saunders Island

In the satellite image from 14th September 2016, a faint dirty looking plume which appears to be originating from Mount Michael is present drifting northeast. This could possibly be an ash plume dispersing, or just simply a gas emission but I'm not 100% sure.

What appears to be a possible dispersing ash plume from Saunders Island on 14th September 2016. SOURCE: Terra/MODIS/NASA.

Clear image at last of Bristol Island and also Saunders Island

Clear images of the South Sandwich Islands from the 21st August 2016 have been released on the EOSDA website, and because it shows a clear view of the islands I was able to truly observe the changes on Bristol Island and I also discovered a thermal anomaly inside the crater of Mount Michael on Saunders Island.

First of all, in the image of Bristol Island a lava field is visible extending towards the west and north-northwest of Mount Sourabaya. The western part looks like it was starting to get frozen over while the north-northwest part of the lava field looks more darker. A steam emission originating from the crater of Mount Sourabaya is also visible. Although the lava appears to retain heat, it is not easy to truly tell whether the eruption has ended all together or if it's still in the last effusive stages.

Clear image view showing the new lava field on Bristol Island. SOURCE: Landsat Viewer/EOS Data Analytics.

Close up view of the new lava field on Bristol Island. SOURCE: Landsat Viewer/EOS Data Analytics.

Meanwhile in the infrared image of Saunders Island, a thermal hotspot is visible inside the summit crater of Mount Michael. This could either mean some low level eruptive activity is taking place, or there's simply high temperatures present inside the crater.

Infrared image of Saunders Island showing thermal anomaly inside the crater of Michael Volcano. SOURCE: Landsat Viewer/EOS Data Analytics.