Mount Michael emits a dense white plume

In a satellite image from 24th March 2019 as viewed on Sentinel Hub, a dense white plume is seen originating from Mount Michael on Saunders Island then drifting northeast. While viewed on the Atmospheric Penetration filter, you could see that the plume is at it's most dense closer to the volcano while the aerosols look apparent towards the end of the plume. While it is not certain that an eruption is taking place, I wouldn't rule out that possibility and I wouldn't be surprised if the plume had some ash content.

False colour image from the 24th March showing a plume drifting northeast. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

Activity persists on Michael Volcano into 2019

Two false colour Sentinel-2 images of Mount Michael on Saunders Island from the 15th February 2019 and 27th February 2019 shows that volcanic activity continues. In the image from 15th February, a thermal anomaly is present inside the summit crater suggesting a probable lava lake and a steam-and-gas plume is also present originating from the crater and drifting in a southeasterly direction. In the image from the 27th February, a steam-and-gas plume is present above the summit area suggesting that it was rising vertically. However, the view of the summit crater is obscured by the plume.

False colour image shows a thermal anomaly inside the summit crater of Mount Michael and a plume drifting southeast as of 15th February. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

Another false colour image but from the 27th February showing what appears to be a vertically rising plume. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

Mount Michael active in the new year

Satellite image from the 1st January 2019 shows what appears to be slight ash deposits on the east-southeast flank of Michael Volcano, and in a false colour image from the same date a thermal anomaly is present inside the main summit crater.

It is an indicator that an eruption recently occurred at the volcano but it is hard to work when as the previous recent satellite images show cloud cover. But it is certain that there is currently some sort of activity going on.

Natural colour image shows slight ashfall on the ENE flank as of 1st January 2019. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

False colour image shows a thermal anomaly inside the summit crater as of 1st January 2019. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

2 strong earthquakes in the South Sandwich Islands

Two strong earthquakes have recently struck the South Sandwich Islands a month apart.

The first strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 occurred on the 15th November 2018 at 20:02 UTC. The epicenter of the quake was reported to be about 101km east of Visokoi Island with a depth of 15km.

6.4 magnitude earthquake on 15th November 2018. SOURCE: USGS.

The second strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 occurred on the 11th December 2018 at 02:26 UTC. The epicenter of the quake was reported to be about 48km north of Bristol Island with a depth of 164.7km.

7.1 magnitude earthquake on 11th December 2018. SOURCE: USGS.

Eruption occurred on Saunders Island

A fresh ash fallout is present on the northwest flank of Mount Michael on Saunders Island in a Landsat 8 satellite image from 28th September 2018. This is a sign that an eruption had recently occurred on this volcano sometime between the days of 23rd September and 28th September.

EDIT: After studying satellite images on the EOSDIS Worldview website, it is most likely that the eruption occurred on the 27th September 2018 based on the wind direction going northwest.

Ash deposits on the northwest flank of Michael Volcano on 28th September. SOURCE: Landsat 8/Sentinel Hub.

Thermal anomaly present again on Saunders

While studying recent satellite images of Saunders Island on Sentinel Hub, I observed that a thermal anomaly had returned inside the summit crater of Mount Michael on the 23rd September 2018. This indicates that volcanic activity has resumed.

Judging by the size of the double anomaly I am under the opinion that it could either be a lava pond or some mild strombolian activity at the most, or simply some intensive fumarolic activity at the least.

Hotspot is present inside the crater of Michael Volcano on 23rd September. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

6.1 Magnitude earthquake in South Sandwich Islands

A strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit the South Sandwich Islands on the 14th August 2018 at 03:29 UTC. The epicenter of the quake was reported to be about 126km northeast of Bristol Island with a depth of 35km.

6.1 magnitude earthquake on 14th August 2018. SOURCE: USGS.