Vog sprawled across the Pacific Ocean in early June 2010, in the wake of eruptive activity from Yasur Volcano on Vanuatu’s Tanna Island. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this natural-color image on June 6, 2010. A large swath of faint blue-gray haze extends from Tanna toward the southeast, spreading out as it travels farther from the volcano.
Authorities restricted tourist visits to Yasur Volcano at the end of May 2010, and on June 5 (the day before MODIS acquired this image), the volcano experienced an explosive eruption, releasing lava bombs and volcanic ash. The event did not affect flights in Vanuatu, but did affect domestic flights in nearby New Caledonia, according to VolcanoLive.com.
Ever since Caption Cook observed ash eruptions in 1774, Yasur Volcano has been continually active. This stratovolcano is one of Vanuatu’s best-known and most-visited volcanoes.
References & Resources
- Seach, J. (2010, June 5). Volcano News. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Global Volcanism Program. Yasur. Smithsonian Institution. Accessed June 7, 2010.
NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.
