![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090830155452im_/http://veimages.gsfc.nasa.gov//8188/NewBritain.A2005221.0010.250m.thumb.png)
Images & Animations
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Credit
Jeff Schmaltz
Three volcanoes are simultaneously erupting on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. The first, Ulawun (located in the center-right of the island), is a stratovolcano, which is a steep, conical volcano built by thick lava flows. It is very active, erupting once every few years on average. It is part of an island arc, a string of volcanoes that forms over a “subduction zone” where two plates collide. The second, Langila (on the far left of the island), is a complex volcano, consisting of a group of four overlapping cones. It is also highly active. The third, Rabaul (on the far right side of the island), is classified as a pyroclastic shield. This means that it was created from fluid lava flows, producing a flat, dome-like shape. Volcanoes can be highly destructive; however, volcanic soils are highly rich in minerals and in some places, geothermal energy has been tapped from young volcanoes.
Metadata
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Sensor
Terra/MODIS -
MODIS Bands
1,4,3 -
Display Date
January 5, 2005