Terra
Terra is a multi-national, multi-disciplinary mission involving partnerships with
the aerospace agencies of Canada and Japan. Managed by
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center,
the mission also receives key contributions from the
Jet Propulsion Laboratory and
Langley Research Center. Terra is an
important part of NASA’s Science Mission, helping us better understand and protect our
home planet.
Featured Image
Redoubt Volcano Stirs
Larger image (4 MB, JPEG, opens in a new window)
In early May 2009, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) warned that Mount Redoubt could erupt explosively at any time with little or no warning. The AVO cited the volcano’s seismic activity, gaseous output, and lava-dome growth as reasons for concern. The AVO warned that a collapse of the lava dome could send significant amounts of ash and meltwater down nearby Drift Glacier.
The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this image of Mount Redoubt and its surroundings on May 5, 2009, when the volcano exhibited little visible activity besides a plume of vapor. In this image, made from a combination of visible and infrared light, the bright white steam plume hovers over the volcano’s summit. Immediately southwest of this plume, clouds appear fairly thin and dull. North of the volcano, pristine snow rests on the land surface, but southeast of the volcano, ashfall from earlier eruptions has stained the icy surface.
Redoubt is a stratolvolcano—a steep-sloped, conical volcano composed of layers of hardened lava, solidified ash, and rocks ejected by previous eruptions. Starting on March 22, 2009, after weeks of unrest, the volcano suddenly erupted five times in one night. Redoubt remained intermittently active afterwards.
Status Update
August 17 - 23, 2007
Podcasts
Ilan Koren on smoke and clouds over the Amazon
January 6, 2009
Download (mp3, 7.32MB)
Jean-Phillippe Avouac on earthquakes
December 15, 2008
Download (mp3, 9.14MB)
Diane Davies on a wildfire alert system
December 8, 2008
Download (mp3, 9.14MB)
Or, visit the individual instrument galleries: ASTER / CERES / MISR / MODIS / MOPITT
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