La Cumbre Volcano on Isla Fernandina remained active on April 12, 2009, as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite passed overhead. According to the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency, the volcano experienced continuous ash and steam emissions.
Compared to the image acquired the previous day, this image shows a much smaller red-outlined hotspot of anomalously warm surface temperatures. The plume has spread over a wider area, and now travels primarily toward the southwest. A segment of the plume appears north of Isla Fernandina, suggesting a shift in wind direction at some point. Compared to the clouds over Isla Isabela and Isla Fernandina, the volcanic plume is slightly darker and thinner, with less distinct margins.
References & Resources
NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center. Caption by Michon Scott.
