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Volcán de Fuego from Earth and space

Posted by
Deborah Byrd
and
Eleanor Imster
and
February 5, 2018
February 1, 2018, satellite image – in natural color – of a burst from Volcán de Fuego. Ash in a volcanic plume typically appears brown or gray in space images, while steam appears white. Image via Landsat 8 and NASA Earth Observatory.

Guatemala’s Volcán de Fuego began a new round of explosive activity on January 31, 2018. This volcano – located about 40 miles (70 km) west of Guatemala City – is known for its explosive activity, spreading ash plumes, and spectacular lava flows. This eruption was its first of 2018. It ended after about 20 hours of activity.

The Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured the natural-color image above of the eruption. Click here for a wider view.

Meanwhile, photographers on the ground were busy as well, taking in the dramatic show this volcano provides.

As the eruption of Volcán de Fuego progressed, lava poured down the slopes of the volcano. This view is from the municipality of Alotenango, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, on February 1, 2018. Image via Esteban Biba (EFE)/ El País.

NASA said:

According to the Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (CONRED), the plume reached an altitude of 21,300 feet (6,500 meters) above sea level and was carried 25 miles (40 km) to the west and southwest by the winds. Falling ash affected tens of thousands of people, primarily in the provinces of Escuintla and Chimaltenango. Lava from two active conduits flowed through four ravines, leading officials to preemptively close National Route 14 to vehicles.

NASA also reported on components of the ash cloud. The plume contains gaseous components invisible to the human eye, including sulfur dioxide SO2. NASA explained:

The gas can affect human health—irritating the nose and throat when breathed in—and reacts with water vapor to produce acid rain. It also can react in the atmosphere to form aerosol particles, which can contribute to outbreaks of haze and influence the climate.

February 1, 2018 image of Volcán de Fuego via Landsat 8 and NASA Earth Observatory.
This map shows concentrations of SO2 detected on February 1, 2018, by the Ozone Mapper Profiler Suite (OMPS) on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi-NPP) satellite. Image via NASA Earth Observatory.

Volcán de Fuego is famous for being almost constantly active at a low level. On any given day, you might see smoke rising from its peak. Larger eruptions are less common, but have been seen for centuries. Click here for a list of notable eruptions.

And, of course, along with its destructive power comes a spectacular beauty.

Bottom line: Images of the first eruption of 2018 of Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala.

Read more from NASA Earth Observatory

Posted 
February 5, 2018
 in 
Earth

Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:
Our Editor-in-Chief Deborah Byrd works to keep all the astronomy balls in the air between EarthSky's website, YouTube page and social media platforms. She's the primary editor of our popular daily newsletter and a frequent host of EarthSky livestreams. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.

Eleanor Imster

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About the Author:
Eleanor Imster has helped write and edit EarthSky since 1995. She was an integral part of the award-winning EarthSky radio series almost since it began until it ended in 2013. She and her husband live in Tennessee, where they enjoy guitar playing and singing. They have 2 grown sons.

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