Satellite view of the summit crater of Mount Erebus on November 25, 2023, caught by the Operational Land Imager-2 on Landsat 9.
The intense and icy upper reaches of the Antarctic volcano pierced through a canopy of clouds.
On a late spring day in 2023, the summit crater of Mount Erebus, the worlds southernmost active volcano, emerged majestically above the clouds. Caught by Landsat 9s Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2), this stunning view of the stratovolcano was handled November 25.
Geographical and Geological Significance
Mount Erebus forms part of the Ross Island volcanoes, located off the coast of West Antarctica. Standing tall at 3,794 meters (12,450 feet) above sea level, this towering existence controls the landscape near McMurdo Station, situated only 35 kilometers (22 miles) away. The volcanic activity in this region is attributed to the rift zone where extension has actually triggered the Earths crust to thin, assisting in the ascent of magma through crustal faults to the surface area.
Mount Erebus forms part of the Ross Island volcanoes, found off the coast of West Antarctica. The volcanic activity in this area is attributed to the rift zone where extension has actually caused the Earths crust to thin, facilitating the climb of lava through crustal faults to the surface area.
In the detailed view (above), the Landsat image includes the shortwave infrared signal (red) produced by heat from a lava lake in the top crater. The lake has actually been active because at least 1972 and is one of only a couple of long-lived lava lakes on Earth.
Comprehensive view of the image above.
Understanding the Volcanic Phenomena
In the in-depth view (above), the Landsat image includes the shortwave infrared signal (red) produced by heat from a lava lake in the summit crater. The lake has been active because at least 1972 and is one of only a couple of long-lived lava lakes on Earth.
Historic Context
Erebus was active previous to the introduction of this lava lake, consisting of in 1841 when British Royal Navy officer James Clark Ross initially spotted it throughout his Antarctic expedition. Mount Erebus and neighboring Mount Terror were called for warships retrofitted for usage in that expedition and numerous other polar voyages.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, utilizing Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.
By Lindsey Doermann, NASA Earth Observatory
November 29, 2023