River of Fire on Mount Etna
Downloads
- etnaeruption_oli_20250213_lrg.jpg (1003x669, JPEG)
Metadata
- Sensor(s):
- Landsat 8 - OLI
- Data Date: February 13, 2025
- Visualization Date: February 19, 2025
On February 8, 2025, Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that Mount Etna had begun exhibiting “signs of unrest above its background level.” That’s unsurprising for the frequently unruly Sicilian peak, one of the most active stratovolcanoes in the world. But the fiery explosions, disruptive ash clouds, and long lava flows that ensued stood out as being unusually spectacular to many Etna watchers.
The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on the Landsat 8 satellite acquired this image of an ongoing eruption on February 13. The natural-color scene is overlaid with an infrared signal to distinguish the lava’s heat signature on Etna’s snowy slopes.
On the day the image was acquired, INGV reported that Etna’s explosive activity was decreasing but that weak ash emissions were ongoing. A lava flow extended approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the Bocca Nuova crater down the mountain’s southwestern flank. A volcanic plume was also visible drifting to the northeast, away from the 3,357-meter (11,014-foot) peak.
The presence of ash prompted authorities to raise the aviation color code to orange on February 13. On other days during this eruption, it was elevated to red, the highest level of concern. The airport in nearby Catania diverted flights amid hazardous conditions, according to news reports.
Since Etna stirred to life this time around, crowds of hikers and even some skiers flocked to its slopes to witness the fiery displays and lava flows melting through snow. The eruption was ongoing as of February 18, with weak ash emissions and decreasing explosive activity.
References
- Euronews (2025, February 18) Thousands of hikers climb Sicily’s Mount Etna to witness eruption. Accessed February 19, 2025.
- Global Volcanism Program (2025) Etna. Accessed February 19, 2025.
- National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (2025, February) Volcano Observatory Notices for Aviation. Accessed February 19, 2025.
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention Mount Etna. Accessed February 19, 2025.
- Volcano Discovery (2025, February 19) Etna Volcano - Eruption Update. Accessed February 19, 2025.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Lindsey Doermann.
This image record originally appeared on the Earth Observatory. Click here to view the full, original record.