NASA image acquired February 14, 2012

Tinakula is a small, volcanic island in the South Pacific, located about 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) northeast of Brisbane, Australia. This natural-color satellite image (top) shows a plume of volcanic gas, possibly mixed with a bit of ash, rising above the island’s summit.

On February 13th and 14th, 2012, NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) detected heat signatures on Tinakula, and a small plume was apparent in visible imagery (lower image). Over the past decade satellites have detected intermittent “thermal anomalies” on the island that suggest eruptions have taken place, but eyewitness observations are infrequent.

Around the island, the reflection of sunlight on the ocean—sunglint—gives the surface a milky appearance that makes the wave patterns readily visible.

This image was collected by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite. Thanks to the members of Activ for notifying us of the activity.

NASA images by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon (Earth Observatory), using EO-1 ALI data.

Caption by Robert Simmon.

Instrument: EO-1 - ALI

To download the high res go here: earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=77183

Credit: NASA Earth Observatory

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook