New photos of the South Sandwich Islands volcanoes

Earlier this year, a team of scientists went on the Discovery Expedition 99 voyage to South Georgia Island and the South Sandwich Islands to monitor the biodiversity there, the survey was part of the UK Blue Belt Programme with the aim to explore the deep sea communities of the South Sandwich Islands.

With kind permission, Marta Soeffker who was aboard the expedition ship has let me share the pics she taken of the South Sandwich volcanoes.

All photos taken by Marta Soeffker, late February to early March 2019.

ZAVODOVSKI ISLAND

SAUNDERS ISLAND

MONTAGU ISLAND

BRISTOL ISLAND

Quick Mt. Michael plume updates

This is just a quick post about satellite pics of plumes originating from Mount Michael on Saunders Island from April until mid May. No clear indicators of an eruption, just what appears to be likely degassing or aerosol plumes being blown in various directions by winds.

8th April 2019. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

11th April 2019. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

13th April 2019. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

1st May 2019. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

13th May 2019. SOURCE: Sentinel-2/Sentinel Hub.

2 strong earthquakes occur 4 days apart

Two strong earthquakes have struck the South Sandwich Islands during early April 4 days apart.

The first strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 occurred on the 5th April 2019 at 16:14 UTC. The epicenter of the quake was reported to be about 94km north-northwest of Visokoi Island with a depth of 58.4km.

6.5 magnitude earthquake on 5th April 2019. SOURCE: USGS.

The second strong earthquake also with a magnitude of 6.5 occurred on the 9th April 2019 at 17:53 UTC. The epicenter of the quake was reported to be about 86km northeast of Bristol Island with a depth of 45.8km.

6.5 magnitude earthquake on 9th April 2019. SOURCE: USGS.

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.