HR: 1330h
AN: V42B-0366    [PDF]
TI: First Recorded Eruption of Mount Belinda Volcano, South Sandwich Islands
AU: Smellie, J
EM: jlsm@bas.ac.uk
AF: British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET United Kingdom
AU: * Patrick, M
EM: patrick@higp.hawaii.edu
AF: Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii Manoa, 1680 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 United States
AU: Harris, A
EM: harris@higp.hawaii.edu
AF: Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii Manoa, 1680 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 United States
AU: Garbeil, H
EM: harold@higp.hawaii.edu
AF: Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii Manoa, 1680 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 United States
AU: Pilger, E
EM: pilger@higp.hawaii.edu
AF: Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii Manoa, 1680 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 United States
AB: The MODVOLC satellite monitoring system at the University of Hawaii Manoa has revealed the first recorded eruption of Mount Belinda volcano, on Montagu Island in the remote South Sandwich Islands. Here we present some initial qualitative observations gleaned from the relatively limited amount of satellite imagery available throughout the eruption, including MODIS, Landsat 7 ETM+ and ASTER data. The eruption started some time between September 12 and October 20, 2001, with low-level ash effusion. In January 2002 a Landsat 7 ETM+ image indicated possible collapse structures in the surface of the continuous ice cover within the caldera, suggesting some degree of subglacial volcanism. By May 2002, a broad area of lava or ash was observed close to the subaerial erupting centre, and activity subsequently increased to its highest observed levels in August 2002. Observations in February and March 2003, from a British Antarctic Survey ship and an aircraft of the British Royal Navy, provided the first visual confirmation of the eruption. Minor thermal anomalies continued to be observed in MODIS imagery throughout August 2003, indicating a prolonged low-level eruption or the establishment of a persistent summit lake possibly similar to that believed to occupy the summit crater (Mount Michael) on nearby Saunders Island. A dynamic lava lake on Saunders Island was first reported in 2001 and remains active.
DE: 8419 Eruption monitoring (7280)
DE: 8494 Instruments and techniques
DE: 9310 Antarctica
DE: 9815 Notices and announcements
SC: Volcanology, Geochemistry, Petrology [V]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting