Sierra Negra, Galápagos Islands

October 22, 2005

The first activity at Sierra Negra since its large eruption in November 1979.

Anatahan, Mariana Islands

April 6, 2005

This eruption, though not particularly large, was notable for producing a very dense ash cloud (note the very high AI values in the AI image). However, note that the TOMS version 8 AI used here is higher than the old version 7 AI.

Manam, Papua New Guinea

November 2004 - January 2005

Continuous activity, including some powerful Strombolian eruptions, beginning at Manam in October 2004, have produced several significant SO₂ clouds. The eruption column rose to 17-18 km on Nov 24, and maybe to 21-24 km on Jan 28, 2005. Further details are available on the Darwin VAAC website.

Ambrym, Vanuatu

October 7, 2004

SO₂ degassing from Ambrym was apparent throughout September and into October. A relatively large plume was detected on 7 October.

Asama, Japan

September 15, 2004

SO₂ emissions during activity at Asama in mid-September.

Bromo, Indonesia

June 9, 2004

SO₂ clouds generated by a small explosive eruption on June 8.

Nyamuragira, DR Congo

May 8, 2004

SO₂ cloud first observed at 1056 local time on May 8; the eruption began around 0548 local time. Some SO₂ may be sourced from Nyiragongo, which is also currently active. There was a data gap over the region on May 9. AIRS images of this eruption are also available.

Soputan, Indonesia

September 1, 2003

Gas plume from Soputan - MODIS image available on Darwin VAAC website.

Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

July 12, 2003

This SO₂ cloud was produced by explosions at the climax of a major dome collapse on July 12.

Lopevi, Vanuatu

June 8, 2003

A small explosive eruption began at Lopevi on June 8. TOMS detected an SO₂ cloud W of Fiji on June 9.

Anatahan, Mariana Islands

May 10, 2003

TOMS data gaps hampered detection of the early phase of this eruption, but significant SO₂ and ash emissions were detected on subsequent days. No EP TOMS data were available from May 15-23. From May 24, continued emissions were detected.

Nyiragongo, DR Congo

April-June 2003

Significant SO₂ emissions from Nyiragongo have been detected since late April.

Vanuatu

January 2003

TOMS detected a small SO₂ cloud over Vanuatu on January 8, indicating a possible small eruption or degassing episode. The source volcano has yet to be identified, though the cloud was observed in the vicinity of Lopevi and Ambrym (Lopevi is marked on the images).

Nyiragongo, DR Congo

January 2003

SO₂ from Nyiragongo was still perceptible in TOMS data until mid-January.

Nyiragongo, DR Congo

December 2002

Degassing from Nyiragongo became visible once again in TOMS data around December 3 (see below for images from October-November). Data gaps occur over Nyiragongo every other day.

Piton de la Fournaise, Réunion

November 16, 2002

Piton de la Fournaise erupted on November 16. A small SO₂ plume was observed by TOMS on Nov 17.

Papandayan, Indonesia

November 11, 2002

Papandayan began erupting on November 11. Small amounts of SO₂ were observed by TOMS on Nov 13 and 15. GMS-5 visible images of the volcanic cloud on Nov 15 can be viewed on the Darwin VAAC website.

El Reventador, Ecuador

November 3, 2002

Local times of TOMS overpasses are shown. The TOMS swath was not ideally placed for detection of the Reventador eruption cloud on Nov 3, but some SO₂ and ash was seen, with the SO₂ signal being more extensive at the time of the overpass. On Nov 4, TOMS detected several distinct SO₂ masses and an ash cloud - note separation of the ash and gas.

Etna, Italy

October 27, 2002

EP TOMS detected SO₂ and ash associated with the latest eruption of Mt. Etna in Sicily. This eruption has produced stronger signals in the TOMS data than the July-August 2001 eruption, suggesting that the October 2002 plume may have reached higher altitudes. Check out MODIS images of the eruption on the NASA Earth Observatory website.

Nyiragongo, DR Congo

October-November, 2002

Intense degassing from Nyiragongo became visible in TOMS data around October 7, continuing through October and November.

Ruang, Indonesia

September 25, 2002

The TOMS overpass on Sep 25 was too early to capture the fresh eruption cloud, but ash and SO₂ were evident on the following day. The aerosol signal over S Borneo is at least partly due to smoke from biomass burning; the ash cloud from Ruang can be seen over NE Borneo. A data gap may be obscuring any SO₂ or ash immediately west of Ruang.

Nyamuragira, DR Congo

July 26, 2002

SO₂ cloud first detected at 1138 local time on Jul 26. Some SO₂ may be sourced from Nyiragongo. A MODIS image of the July 26 cloud can be seen on the NASA Earth Observatory website. EP TOMS unfortunately entered safe hold mode on August 2, prematurely curtailing tracking of this eruption. No further SO₂ was detected when data collection resumed on August 13.

Nyiragongo, DR Congo

January 17, 2002

SO₂ cloud detected at around 1100 local time on Jan 17.

Bezymianny, Kamchatka

August 7, 2001

Local time of TOMS overpass indicated.

Tungurahua, Ecuador

August 6, 2001

Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

July 30, 2001

Cloud produced by a lava dome collapse on July 29.

Shiveluch, Kamchatka

May 22, 2001

Local times of TOMS overpasses indicated.

Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

April 30, 2001

Data gap over volcano. See visible images of the eruption cloud courtesy of Darwin VAAC.

Popocatépetl, Mexico

April 29, 2001

Cleveland, Aleutian Islands

March 19, 2001

Cleveland, Aleutian Islands

March 11, 2001

Cleveland, Aleutian Islands

February 19, 2001

Nyamuragira, D.R. Congo

February 2001

AI images suggest sulfate aerosol production (negative AI).

Popocatépetl, Mexico

December 19, 2000

Data gap over region on Dec 20.

Popocatépetl, Mexico

December 15, 2000

Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

September 28, 2000

No data available over PNG on Sep 29 due to a data gap. Visible images of the eruption cloud courtesy of Darwin VAAC.

Miyakejima, Japan

August 2000

Separation of SO₂ and ash evident in Aug 19 cloud. An airliner encountered the Aug 19 ash cloud in flight and sustained US$4 million in damage. Ozone anomalies on Aug 18, 24 and 28 indicate SO₂ emissions.

Láscar, Chile

July 20, 2000

Ash from a short eruption on July 20. A data gap truncates the eastward extent of the cloud.

Hekla, Iceland

February 27-29, 2000

As the cloud drifted near the light terminator the retrievals were cut off. Extensive sulfate aerosol signal associated with the cloud.

Nyamuragira, D.R. Congo

January - February 2000

Tungurahua, Ecuador

November 16, 1999

Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

July 20, 1999

Cloud produced by a lava dome collapse on July 20. Separation of SO₂ and ash evident.

Shishaldin, Aleutian Islands

April 19, 1999

No further ash detected after April 19.

Mt Cameroon, Cameroon

March 28, 1999

First detection by TOMS (March 30) followed the opening of a new set of fissure vents on the volcano, which produced a voluminous lava flow.

Popocatépetl, Mexico

November 25, 1998

Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

November 12, 1998

Cloud produced by a lava dome collapse on November 12.

Nyamuragira, D.R. Congo

October 1998

AI images show sulfate aerosol production.

Manam, Papua New Guinea

October 5, 1998

Visible images of eruption plume courtesy of Darwin VAAC.

Cerro Azul, Galápagos Islands

September - October 1998

GOES Vis/IR images of initial eruption. Note that sunglint over the ocean can also produce positive Aerosol Index values.

Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

July 3, 1998

Cloud produced by a lava dome collapse early in the morning of July 3.

Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

December 26, 1997

Separation of SO₂ and ash evident.

Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

August - October 1997

Ash from Vulcanian explosions during Aug and Sept/Oct 1997. Ozone data indicate a possible SO₂ cloud on Oct 19.

Popocatépetl, Mexico

July 3, 1997

Bezymianny, Kamchatka

May 8, 1997

Langila, Papua New Guinea

February 1997

Manam, Papua New Guinea

February 8-11, 1997

ADEOS overpasses precede Earth Probe by ~1 hour. Ozone anomalies on Feb 9 and 11 are suggestive of weak SO₂ clouds from Manam.

Nyamuragira, D.R. Congo

December 1996

ADEOS overpasses precede Earth Probe by ~1 hour. Negative Aerosol Index indicates sulfate aerosol production.

Merapi, Java

November 22, 1994

Ash cloud generated by a large dome collapse on Nov 22.

Kliuchevskoi, Kamchatka

October 1, 1994

Converging orbits at high latitudes produce 2 TOMS overpasses of Kliuchevskoi on Oct 1. Time between overpasses is ~1.7 hours.

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

September 19, 1994

Visible/IR images of eruption plumes courtesy of Darwin VAAC.

Nyamuragira, Zaire

July 1994

AI images indicate sulfate aerosol production.

Rinjani, Indonesia

June-August, 1994

Visible/IR images of eruption plumes courtesy of Darwin VAAC.

Shiveluch, Kamchatka

April 22, 1993

Láscar, Chile

April 18, 1993

Nimbus-7 overpasses precede Meteor-3 by 3-4 hours.

Mt. Spurr, Alaska

September 16, 1992

Times (Alaskan time) of TOMS overpasses are given in brackets.

Mt. Spurr, Alaska

August 18, 1992

Times (Alaskan time) of TOMS overpasses are given in brackets. Note that Meteor-3 overpasses were late in the day, precluding accurate SO₂ retrievals due to low light levels.

Mt. Spurr, Alaska

June 27, 1992

Times (Alaskan time) of TOMS overpasses are given in brackets. Due to the high latitude of the volcanic cloud, it was detected in several TOMS orbits on each day.

Cerro Negro, Nicaragua

April 1992

Meteor-3 overpasses precede Nimbus-7 by several hours.

Marchena, Galápagos Islands

September 26, 1991

Possible sulfate signal in AI image on Sep 26. Most Meteor-3 overpasses of Marchena were too early in the day to be of any use for this eruption.

Nyamuragira, Zaire

September 1991 - July 1992

Cerro Hudson, Chile

August 1991

Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines

June 12 - 19, 1991

The 1991 Pinatubo eruption is the largest seen by TOMS to date. These images document the precursory explosions (June 12-14) that occurred prior to the paroxysmal eruption on June 15 (which were significant events themselves), the enormous SO₂ and ash clouds produced on June 15 (seen in the June 16 image), and the first week of transport of the SO₂ cloud around the globe.

Fernandina, Galápagos Islands

April 19, 1991

Weak ash signal seen over Fernandina on April 20.

Hekla, Iceland

January 17, 1991

The eruption cloud was north of the terminator in the polar night region for the first few days of atmospheric residence, then it moved south across Russia and was detected by TOMS near the Black Sea.

Gamalama, Indonesia

April 25, 1990

Redoubt, Alaska

February-April 1990

TOMS detected several of the explosive lava dome destruction events that occurred during Redoubt's 6-month eruption.

Kelut, Indonesia

February 10, 1990

Infrared images of eruption plume courtesy of Darwin VAAC. AI images show sunglint features over Indian Ocean (Feb 11, 12) and off N. Australia (Feb 12).

Kliuchevskoi, Kamchatka

January 29, 1990

Redoubt, Alaska

January 1990

TOMS detected several of the explosive lava dome destruction events that occurred during Redoubt's 6-month eruption.

Redoubt, Alaska

December 14, 1989

Due to low light levels in Alaska in the N. Hemisphere winter, TOMS was unable to detect this cloud until it moved into lower latitudes.

Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia

September 1, 1989

Nyamuragira, Zaire

April - May 1989

Ambrym, Vanuatu

April 24, 1989

Soputan, Indonesia

April 22, 1989

Pacaya, Guatemala

March 9, 1989

Lonquimay, Chile

December 25, 1988 January 25, 1989

Two overpasses available for some days due to overlapping TOMS orbits at these latitudes.

Fernandina, Galápagos Islands

September 14, 1988

Along with SO₂, some ash from phreatic explosions was also detected.

Makian, Indonesia

July 29, 1988

Visible/IR images of July 29 eruption plume courtesy of Darwin VAAC.

Banda Api, Indonesia

May 9, 1988

Visible image of May 9 eruption plume courtesy of Darwin VAAC.

Nyamuragira, Zaire

December 1987 - January 1988

Kliuchevskoi, Kamchatka

February 19, 1987

Chikurachki, Kurile Islands

November - December 1986

Izu-Oshima, Japan

November 1986

SOI and AI images of plumes from Oshima and Chikurachki (Kurile Islands) on the same day. Oshima produced little (if any) detectable ash.

Ambrym, Vanuatu

November 1, 1986

SO₂ degassing from Ambrym.

Nyamuragira, Zaire

July 16, 1986

Kilauea, Hawaii

June 27, 1986

SO₂ emissions from Episode 47 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

June 2, 1986

SO₂ emissions from Episode 46 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

May 8, 1986

SO₂ emissions from Episode 45 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Pavlof, Alaska

April 16, 1986

Kilauea, Hawaii

April 14, 1986

SO₂ emissions from Episode 44 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Augustine, Alaska

March 27, 1986

Kilauea, Hawaii

March 22, 1986

SO₂ emissions from Episode 43 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

February 23, 1986

SO₂ emissions from Episode 42 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

January 28, 1986

SO₂ emissions from Episode 41 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

January 2, 1986

SO₂ emissions from Episode 40 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

November 20, 1985

Kilauea, Hawaii

November 14, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 39 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia

November 13, 1985

Marked separation of SO₂ and ash components in the volcanic cloud.

Kilauea, Hawaii

October 21, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 38 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

September 25, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 37 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia

September 11, 1985

Kilauea, Hawaii

September 3, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 36 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kliuchevskoi, Kamchatka

August 16, 1985

Sangeang Api, Indonesia

July 30, 1985

Kilauea, Hawaii

July 26, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 35 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

July 7, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 34 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

June 13, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 33 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Bezymianny, Kamchatka

June 12, 1985

Soputan, Indonesia

May 20, 1985

A jumbo jet en route from Hong Kong to Sydney encountered the ash cloud on 20 May at 0058 .

Kilauea, Hawaii

April 22, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 32 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

March 14, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 31 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Canlaon, Philippines

March 13, 1985

Kilauea, Hawaii

February 4, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 30 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Heard Island

January 14, 1985

Kilauea, Hawaii

January 4, 1985

SO₂ emissions from Episode 29 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

December 4, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 28 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Bezymianny, Kamchatka

November 13, 1984

Kilauea, Hawaii

November 3, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 26 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

September 20, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 25 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Mayon, Philippines

September 9, 1984

Krafla, Iceland

September 4, 1984

Times (local) of TOMS overpasses given in brackets for days with 2 images.

Soputan, Indonesia

August 31, 1984

Kilauea, Hawaii

August 20, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 24 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

July 29, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 23 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

July 9, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 22 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

July 1, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 21 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Merapi, Java

June 15, 1984

Kilauea, Hawaii

June 8, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 20 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Soputan, Indonesia

May 24-26, 1984

Kilauea, Hawaii

April 19, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 18 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Fernandina, Galápagos Islands

March - April 1984

Mauna Loa, Hawaii

March - April 1984

Kilauea, Hawaii

March 4, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 16 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Nyamuragira, Zaire

February - March 1984

Kilauea, Hawaii

February 15, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 15 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

January 31, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 14 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

January 21, 1984

SO₂ emissions from Episode 13 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Pavlof, Alaska

December 15, 1983

Kilauea, Hawaii

November 30, 1983

SO₂ emissions from Episode 12 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Pavlof, Alaska

November 14, 1983

Kilauea, Hawaii

November 6, 1983

SO₂ emissions from Episode 11 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

October 5, 1983

SO₂ emissions from Episode 10 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

September 16, 1983

SO₂ emissions from Episode 9 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

September 6, 1983

SO₂ emissions from Episode 8 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

August 16, 1983

SO₂ emissions from Episode 7 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Gamalama, Indonesia

August 9, 1983

Partial separation of ash and SO2 in the volcanic cloud.

Colo, Indonesia

July - August 1983

Kilauea, Hawaii

July 23, 1983

SO₂ emissions from Episode 6 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

June 30, 1983

SO₂ emissions from Episode 5 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

March 31, 1983

SO₂ emissions from Episode 3 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

February 25, 1983

SO₂ emissions from Episode 2 of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption.

Kilauea, Hawaii

January 3, 1983

SO₂ emissions at the beginning of the Pu'u'O'o-Kupaianaha eruption on Kilauea's East Rift Zone.

Soputan, Indonesia

November 9, 1982

Lopevi, Vanuatu

October 24, 1982

Mt Cameroon, Cameroon

October 16, 1982

Soputan, Indonesia

September 16-18, 1982

Soputan is not the only source of aerosols in these images. At this time, forest fires in Kalimantan were also producing a veil of smoke over central Indonesia. Galunggung (west Java) was also erupting, producing an ash cloud visible on September 19.

Volcan Wolf, Galápagos Islands

August 28, 1982

Soputan, Indonesia

August 26, 1982

Galunggung, Indonesia

May - September 1982

El Chichón, Mexico

March - April 1982

The March-April 1982 eruptions of El Chichón produced several vast SO₂ and ash clouds. The largest explosive events of the eruption occurred on March 28, April 3 and April 4. The April 4 event was the paroxysmal phase of the eruption, and the resulting SO₂ cloud was tracked for several weeks as it circled the globe. All of the clouds show some degree of separation of ash and SO₂.

Nyamuragira, Zaire

December 1981 - January 1982

Vanuatu

July 8, 1981

SO₂ degassing from either Ambrym or Lopevi (probably Ambrym).

Pagan, Mariana Islands

May 15, 1981

Alaid, Kurile Islands

April - May 1981

Hekla, Iceland

April 9, 1981

Pavlof, Alaska

November 11, 1980

Krafla, Iceland

October 18, 1980

Mt. St. Helens, Washington

October 17, 1980

One of a series of lava dome destruction events at Mt St Helens after dome growth commenced in June 1980.

Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

October 6, 1980

Etna, Italy

September 1, 1980

Etna, Italy

September 6, 1980

Hekla, Iceland

August 17, 1980

Times (UTC) of overpasses are given in brackets. Local time in Iceland is the same as UTC. This was a modest eruption, but the SO₂ cloud produced seems to have been relatively long-lived. Part of this cloud appears to have circumnavigated the globe in 5-6 days, eventually returning close to its point of origin. Other parts of the cloud moved across Russia, Alaska and Canada. A composite plot of TOMS data for August 18-23 is also available.

Mt. St. Helens, Washington

August 7, 1980

One of a series of lava dome destruction events at Mt St Helens after dome growth commenced in June 1980.

Mt. St. Helens, Washington

July 22, 1980

One of a series of lava dome destruction events at Mt St Helens after dome growth commenced in June 1980.

Krafla, Iceland

July 10, 1980

Local times of TOMS overpasses are given in brackets. Due to the high latitude of the eruption, it was detected in more than one orbit on some days.

Mt. St. Helens, Washington

June 12, 1980

Mt. St. Helens, Washington

May 25, 1980

Mt. St. Helens, Washington

May 18, 1980

Data gap over western and central USA on May 21.

Makushin, Aleutian Islands

May 1, 1980

Bulusan, Philippines

February 7, 1980

Nyamuragira, Zaire

January 30, 1980

Sierra Negra, Galápagos Islands

November 13, 1979

Karkar, Papua New Guinea

May 30, 1979

Ozone anomaly on May 29 indicates low-level SO₂ emissions, prior to minor eruptions of ash on May 30-31.

Soufriere St Vincent, West Indies

April 17, 1979

Soufriere St Vincent, West Indies

April 13, 1979

Karkar, Papua New Guinea

March 8, 1979

Ozone anomaly on Mar 7 indicates low-level SO₂ emissions. Some separation of ash and SO₂ is apparent on Mar 8. Note the prominent sunglint signal over the ocean north and south of New Guinea in AI data on Mar 8 - the ash cloud from Karkar is over land.

Cerro Azul, Galápagos Islands

January - February 1979

No data available for Feb 9.

Ambrym, Vanuatu

December 5, 1978

Effusive eruption of Ambrym.

Ambrym, Vanuatu

November 6, 1978

SO₂ degassing from Ambrym.