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December 20, 2014 - Hawaii
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The Hawaii Islands are known worldwide for their black sand beaches, tropical forests, warm hospitality – and for volcanoes. Each of the Hawaiian Islands was created by repetitive volcanic eruptions that raised the land above the ocean’s surface. Some islands were created by only one volcano, but others, such as the “Big Island” (Hawaii) were created by multiple volcanoes.
The island of Hawaii is home to five volcanoes, three of which have erupted in the last 200 years. Kilauea, on the southeastern side of the island, is currently in eruption and is pouring lava from the Pu’u ‘O’o side vent. The lava has reached the outskirts of Pahoa Village, a small town located east of the active rift vent. This is not unprecedented, as the volcanic soils of Pahoa have been generated by lava flows from Kilauea in the past several hundred years.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured this true-color image of Hawaii on December 10, 2014. From northwest to southeast the islands are Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Kahoolawe and Hawaii. Three red hotspots on the "Big Island" mark areas of active volcanic activity – most likely fresh hot lava. The crater of Kilauea lies furthest west, and the lava flow closest to Pahoa Village is the furthest east. The red spot between the two appears to be due to heat and lava at the Pu’u ‘O’o vent.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 12/10/2014
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
The Hawaii Islands are known worldwide for their black sand beaches, tropical forests, warm hospitality – and for volcanoes. Each of the Hawaiian Islands was created by repetitive volcanic eruptions that raised the land above the ocean’s surface. Some islands were created by only one volcano, but others, such as the “Big Island” (Hawaii) were created by multiple volcanoes.
The island of Hawaii is home to five volcanoes, three of which have erupted in the last 200 years. Kilauea, on the southeastern side of the island, is currently in eruption and is pouring lava from the Pu’u ‘O’o side vent. The lava has reached the outskirts of Pahoa Village, a small town located east of the active rift vent. This is not unprecedented, as the volcanic soils of Pahoa have been generated by lava flows from Kilauea in the past several hundred years.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured this true-color image of Hawaii on December 10, 2014. From northwest to southeast the islands are Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Kahoolawe and Hawaii. Three red hotspots on the "Big Island" mark areas of active volcanic activity – most likely fresh hot lava. The crater of Kilauea lies furthest west, and the lava flow closest to Pahoa Village is the furthest east. The red spot between the two appears to be due to heat and lava at the Pu’u ‘O’o vent.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 12/10/2014
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
