A Volcano in Space
This three day loop shows Mt. Rinjani erupting from November 4-6 using true color imagery from Japan’s Himawari-8 geostationary satellite, according to NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service.
The volcano, located on the Indonesian island of Lombok, began intermittently erupting on October 27. In recent days, activity has increased, closing airports in the region as a stream of volcanic ash and smoke moves westward along the Java coast.
The volcano last erupted in 2010, but has been active for centuries. According to the Smithsonian, an eruption of Mt. Rinjani in 1257 CE was one of the largest in history.
Satellite data from NOAA and its partners is being used to monitor the spread of the volcanic ash, which can cause serious complications to aircraft.
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Video: Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University