Satellite spies one of Russia's most active volcanoes melting snow from the inside out
Space • • science
Key Points:
- Fresh satellite images from Landsat 9 reveal Shivelyuch volcano on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula melting snow from within due to ongoing volcanic heat.
- Shivelyuch is one of Earth's most active volcanoes, characterized by near-constant activity including ash deposits, heat emissions, and avalanches of hot rock.
- A growing lava dome inside the volcano's crater has been expanding, with collapses triggering fast-moving pyroclastic flows that leave behind heat-retaining deposits.
- The dark channels visible in the satellite images indicate areas where snow has melted along fresh volcanic flow paths, some possibly still warm from the massive 2023 eruption.
- Volcanologist Janine Krippner highlights Shivelyuch's cycle of collapse and rebuilding, emphasizing its persistent and dynamic volcanic behavior.