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Sulfur Dioxide Image Galleries

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historic TOMS images (1979-2005) | AIRS images (2003-now) | OMPS images (May 2012-now) | TROPOMI images(2019-now) | N20OMPS images (2021-now)

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OMI Volcanic SO₂ Image Archive

This archive is not an exhaustive list of all volcanic emissions detected by OMI. Particularly large or otherwise interesting events will be posted here as time permits. This website under development by NOAA is providing near real-time OMI SO₂ images of volcanic events.

Images presented in the SO₂ column will typically display retrievals from the current operational SO₂ algorithm. In some cases, offline experimental algorithms may be implemented. Units are milli-atm-cm, also known as Dobson Units (DU), where 1 milli-atm-cm = 1 DU = 2.68x10¹⁶ molecules cm^-2 at STP (0^o degs C, 1013.25 hPa). Images in the Ash/Aerosols column show the OMI Aerosol Index (AI), which is positive for UV-absorbing aerosols such as volcanic ash, and can be negative for non-UV absorbing aerosols such as sulfate. Note that the scale used varies between plots. For further information please contact us.

Choose a year: 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2022 |

Volcano	Date	Daily images	Composites	Ash/Aerosols	Notes/Links
	↓2022 ↓
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, Tonga, Pacific	Jan 14, 2022	Jan 14			An underwater volcano, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (Tonga) erupted explosively between 1500 and 1530 UTC on 13 January 2022 sending SO2 and ash up to 20 km. The second eruption started at 04:00 UTC on Jan 15 and produced a multi-layered eruption cloud with stratospheric injection up to a maximum altitude of ~48 km (based on cloud temperatures and OMPS Limb profiler data) and a lower-level umbrella cloud around the tropopause. Based on the westward dispersion of the SO2, most of the SO2 was injected into the stratospheric cloud. The latest OMPS-LP data also indicate aerosol heights of 28-30 km. It appears that the high-level stratospheric cloud was no longer being actively fed by ~10:00 UTC (possibly earlier), so injecting 400 kt SO2 to 28 km over 6 hours is a reasonable first guess. The tropopause-level eruption continued for longer but did not seem to contain much SO2.
	↓2018 ↓
Kilauea, Hawaii	May 3, 2018	May 8			Kilauea eruptied on May 3 and now has at least 14 fissures on the mid-eastern rift.
Aoba, Vanuatu	Apr 5, 2018	Apr 6 Apr 7 Apr 8 Apr 9			Aoba erupted overnight on Apr 5th. Satellite measurements of about 0.15 Tg of SO2 indicate that this was the largest volcanic SO2 emission since Calbuco in April 2015. No significant ash cloud detected. CALIPSO overpass on April 7 detected weak aerosol layers at about 18 km.
Aoba, Vanuatu	Mar 24, 2018	Mar 24 Mar 25			Aoba erupted on Mar 24th.
Sinabung, Indonesia	Feb 19, 2018	Feb 20 Feb 21			Sinabung erupted at 0153 UTC on Feb 19th. SO2 plume height was 14016 km with some going to 18km and drifted NW.
Mayon, Philipines	Feb 19, 2018	Jan 22 Jan 23			Mayon erupted at 0225 and 1243 on Jan 22nd sending ash plumes to 1.3 and 5 km, respectively.
	↓2017 ↓
Tinakula, Solomon Islands	Oct 20, 2017	Oct 21			2 eruptions of Tinakula, in the Solomon Islands, occured on Oct 20 at 1920 and 2340 UTC sending ash to 10.7 km (35,000 feet).
Turrialba, Costa Rica	Apr 21, 2017	Apr 21
	↓2016 ↓
	↓2016 ↓
Aso, Japan	Oct 8, 2016	Oct 8			Erupted Sat afternoon (10/8). About 10.08 kilo tons SO2.
Colima & Popocatepetl, Mexico	Oct 1, 2016	Oct 1			Dueling eruptions!
	↓2015 ↓
Etna, Sicily, Italy	Dec 4, 2015	Dec 4	Dec 4		Following a day of increased seismic activity, an eruption began at Mt. Etna on December 3, 2015. The eruption was characterized by lava fountaining between 1-2 km for two days and ash plumes between 7-8 km on December 4th. By december 5th, eruption activity was decreasing, with Strombolian and effusive activity continuing for a few days.
Calbuco, Chile	Apr 22, 2015	Apr 24	Apr 23 Apr 24 Apr 25 Apr 26 Apr 27		Calbuco volcano, in central Chile, began erupting on April 22, 2015 at approximately 2138 UTC with a second eruption at 0408 UTC on April 23, 2015. AIRS and OMPS provided the best plume coverage for volcanic SO2 and mass estumates are 0.2 Tg and 0.24 Tg, respectively, in the first overpasses following the eruption. A CALIPSO overpass on April 23, 2015 shows that the plume reached an altitude of 17-19 km before being transported to the northeast towards Buenos Aires by ambient meteorology.
	↓2014 ↓
Fogo, Cape Verde Islands	Nov 24, 2014	Nov 24 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 28 Nov 29			Fogo began erupting on the morning of Nov 23. The eruption started at a vent on the WSW part of the cone. On the 24th, a sulfur dioxide cloud was observed 220 km NW of Fogo at an altitude of 9.1 km by the Toulouse VAAC. More detailed info here.
Pavlof, Alaska, USA	Nov 15, 2014	Nov 15			The eruption that began on Nov 12 intensified on the 15th. Ash cloud at about 25,000 feet (about 7,600 m) above sea level and about 120 miles (196 km) downwind.
Bárðarbunga, Iceland	Aug 31, 2014	Sep 1			Bárðarbunga (on Iceland) began erupting on Aug 31 between 0300-0445 UTC. The eruption occured 40 km N/NE of the central vent location. There was no ash dispersal associated with this event.
Kelut, Java, Indonesia	Feb 13, 2014	Feb 14 15, 16, 17	OMI/OMPS/PCA Feb 14 Feb 16 Feb 17	Feb 14 Feb 15	This eruption started Feb 13 between 16:15-16:30 UTC and stopped before 19 UTC. It was a mixture of gas, ash and water with a plume initially moving westward. OMI/OMPS estimated SO2 released: 150-300 kT (0.15-0.30 Tg), mostly during initial explosion. Very high ash loading detected on 14 Feb (UV Aerosol Index > 10). SO2 ash injection heights were 17-26 km with the bulk of injection at 19 km, estimated from the CALIPSO overpass at 18 UTC. An additional SO2 source was introduced on 02/17/2014, which mixed with the initial Kelut SO2 plume. Here is a more detailed explanation.
	↓2013 ↓
Etna, Sicily, Italy	Nov 23, 2013	Nov 23 Dec 03			This eruption started Nov 23rd. There is a cloud over Europe. See OMPS images.
Pavlof, Alaska, USA	May 15, 2012	May 20			Pavlof began erupting ong May 15th. local airline flights have been affected.
Manam, Papua, New Guinea	May 6, 2012	Apr 16			New eruption on April 16th.
	↓2012 ↓
Nyamuragira, DR Congo	May 6, 2012	May 6	May 6		New eruption on May 6th.
Etna, Sicily, Italy	April 24, 2012		Apr 24		The 7th eruption this year. SO2 cloud over Iraq probably came from Etna.
Etna, Sicily, Italy	Mar 4, 2012	Mar 4	Mar 4-7		Started erupting on March 4th. Eruption is continuing.
	↓2011 ↓
Nyamuragira, DR Congo	Nov 7, 2011	Nov 7-14			Started erupting on November 4th. Eruption are continuing.
Puyehue - Cordon Caulle, Chile	October 10, 2011				Puyehue - Cordon Caulle (in Chile) has been active recently, but no major activity. There has been significant ash causing problems downwind a few hundred kms, as far as Buenos Aires where flights were canceled.
Etna, Sicily, Italy	August 12, 2011	Aug 12			In July and August, there have been several eruptions that were short, but intense enough to shut the airport and the highway due to the dust.
Nabro, Eritrea	June 12, 2011	Jun 13 Jun 14	Jun 13 Jun 14 Jun 13 - Jun 28		On June 13, OMI captured high SOs concentrations from the eruption of Nabro (Eritrea) on June 12th. Total tonnage is estimated to exceed 1Tg. The plume moved westward and the peak SO2 height was estimated to be 15-17 km (in the lower stratosphere). According to the Toulouse VAAC, the gas/ash/steam emissions at Nabro stopped around 15 UTC on 16 June.
Puyehue - Cordon Caulle, Chile	June 5, 2011		Jun 5 Calypso east: Jul 9 Calypso west: Jul 9	Jun 5 Ash: Jun 28 AI: Jun 5-13 Jun 28	Puyehue - Cordon Caulle (in Chile) began erupting on June 4 at about 1800 UTC and lasted for about 2 weeks.
Grimsvotn, Iceland	May 21, 2011	May 23 May 24	May22-Jun1 May21-Jun12	May 23 May 24	Grimsvotn (on Iceland) began erupting on May 21 at 1730 UTC. Lasted until May 26th.
	↓2010 ↓
Merapi, Indonesia	October 29, 2010	Oct 29 - Nov 15
Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland	April 21, 2010	Apr 19 - May 23		Apr19 May6 - May20	Eyjafjallajökull (on Iceland) began erupting on April 14th. The ash cloud released disrupted air travel in Europe and around the world.
	↓2009 ↓
Sarychev, Kuril Islands, RussianFederation	June 12, 2009	Jun 12 - 27	Jun 12 - 27		The eruption started on June 12th sending ash plumes in 2 directions.
Redoubt, Alaska	March 23, 2009	Mar 23 - 25	Mar 23	Mar 23 - 24	The eruption started on March 22nd, around 2238 local (0638 GMT). The composite is a composite of Calispo and OMI data.
	↓2008 ↓
Kasatochi, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	August 8, 2008	Aug 08 - 13			The eruption started on August 7th.
Okmok, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	July 12, 2008	Jul 12 - 20	Jul 12-20		The eruption started on July 12th.
Cerro Azul, Galápagos Islands	May 30, 2008	May 30 - Jun 10			The eruption started on May 29th.
Chaitén, Chile	May 2, 2008	May 03 - 09	May 2	May 2-9	The eruption started on May 2nd.
Llaima, Chile	Jan 1, 2008	Jan 2-4	Jan 2-4		Llaima erupted on the evening of Jan 1. According to the Buenos Aires VAAC, the resulting ash cloud reached an altitude of 12.5 km (41,000 ft). On Jan 4, the volcanic SO2 cloud drifted over Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic.
	↓2007 ↓
Jebel al-Tair, Yemen	Sep 30, 2007	Oct 1 - 11			The first eruption of this Red Sea volcano since 1883. The images show the long-range transport of the SO2 cloud by the subtropical jet stream.
Chikurachki, Kurile Islands	Aug 19, 2007	Aug 19-21		Aug 19-21	Chikurachki began erupting on August 19th.
Manda Hararo, Afar, Ethiopia	Aug 12, 2007	Aug 13 - 14			An eruption close to Manda Hararo volcano in western Afar.
Gamkorona, Halmahera Indonesia	Jul 9, 2007	Jul 9-10		Jul 9-10	Chikurachki began erupting on July 9th.
Lopevi, Vanuatu	Apr 21, 2007	Apr 21-29		Apr 21-29	The eruption of Lopevi on Vanuatu in the SW Pacific.
Piton de la Fournaise, Réunion	Apr 03, 2007	Apr 03 - 09			The eruption of Piton de la Fournaise.
Sheveluch (Shiveluch), Kamchatka, Russia	Mar 29, 2007	Mar 29		AI - Mar 29	See SO2 and ash from Sheveluch and SO2 from 2 other volcanoes further south in spite of looking through 500 DU of ozone.
Popocatépetl, Mexico	Mar 24, 2007	Mar 24 - 26		Not available presently	Plumes with < 1000 tons of SO2. No emissions from Colima.
Reventador, Ecuador	Mar 21, 2007	Mar 21 - 29		Not available presently	Tonnages range from 300 to about 1200. Note that not all color ranges are the same.
Chikurachki, Kurile Islands	Mar 04, 2007	Mar 4-5		Mar 4-5	Chikurachki began erupting on March 4th.
Tungurahua, Ecuador	Mar 02, 2007	Mar 2 - 25		Not available presently	Continued and steady emissions from Tungurahua.
Nevado del Huila, Colombia	Feb 19, 2007	Feb 19-21		Feb 19-21	Nevado del Huila's eruption began on Feb 19th. Data at 5km.
Tara Batu, Lesser Sunda Islands	Feb 14, 2007	Feb 14		Feb 14	Tara Batu eruption began on Jan 17th. Data at 3km.
Karthala, Comores Islands	Jan 13, 2007	Jan 13		Jan 13	Karthala's eruption began on Jan 12th until Jan 15. Data at 3km.
	↓2006 ↓
Nyamuragira, DR Congo	Nov 27, 2006	Nov 28 - Dec 8	Nov 28 - Dec 4	Not available presently	Erupted around 1000 on November 27th. Daily images from Nov 28 to Dec 8. Large quantities of SO2 emitted.
Ambrym, Vanuatu	Nov 8, 2006	Nov 08 - 18		Nov 08 - 15	About 1 kton of SO2 with a couple of outgassing evants during this time.
Rabaul, Papua New Guinea	Oct 7, 2006	Oct 07 - 18	Oct 07 - 09	Not available presently	The eruption shook windows and rained heavy ash and small stones on the city of Rabaul. QT movie (1.9 Mb)
Fourpeaked, Alaska	Sept 17, 2006	Sep 17 - 18		Not available presently	First historical activity at Fourpeaked.
Rabaul, Papua New Guinea	Aug 11, 2006	Aug 11		Aug 11	0.23 ktons of SO2.
Tungurahua, Ecuador	Aug 02, 2006	Aug 02 - 10		Not available presently	Typical emissions from Tungurahua on the 2nd, pulsed emissions on the 4th, reduced emissions afterwards.
Tungurahua, Ecuador	Jul 27, 2006	Jul 27 - 31		Not available presently	Possible cloud interference is hiding some of the plume in these images.
Piton de la Fournaise, Réunion Island	Jul 20, 2006	Jul 20		Jul 20	Data are from 3 km. 0.32 ktons of SO2.
Tungurahua, Ecuador	Jul 13, 2006	Jul 13 - 17		AI - Jul 15 refl - Jul 15	No new SO2 from Galeras on the 13th. Tungurahua emitting 7-10x more SO2 than usual.
Galeras, Colombia	Jul 08, 2006	Jul 08 - 12		Not available presently	First large burst of SO2 over the last two months.
Tungurahua, Ecuador	Jul 03, 2006	Jul 03 - 10		Not available presently	Looks like wind reversal on the 7th. Galeras burst on the 8th.
Tungurahua, Ecuador	Jun 21, 2006	Jun 21		Not available presently	Tungurahua continuing to put out SO2. 0.53 ktons of SO2.
Soufriere Hills, Montserrat, West Indies	May 20, 2006	May 20 - Jun 11		Not available presently	The dome collapsed sending a volcanic plume to 20km that suspended air traffic temporarily. QT movie (3.2 Mb)
Tungurahua, Ecuador	May 11, 2006	May 11 - 18		Not available presently	Tungurahua continuing to put out SO2. Some images near edge of swath. SO2 mass ranging from 0.18 ktons on the 17th to 1.04 ktons on the 14th.
Láscar, Chile	Apr 18, 2006	Apr 18		Apr 18	Láscar erupted on April 18. Data are from 5 km. 0.75 ktons of SO2.
Ubinas, Peru	Mar 25, 2006	Mar 26-29		Mar 26-29	Ubinas erupted onMarch 25. No images are shown because the OMI data seem to show that the SO2 present seem to be from the nearby smelter. Data are at 3km.
Ulawun, New Britain	Mar 1, 2006	Mar 3-5		Mar 3-5	Data are from 3 km.
Tinakula, Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands	Feb 13, 2006	Feb 13		Feb 13	Data are from 3 km. 0.76 ktons of SO2.
	↓2005 ↓
Sierra Negra, Galápagos Islands	Oct 22, 2005	Oct 23 - Nov 1	Oct 23 - Nov 1	Not available presently	The SO2 mass for these days were: 23 - 418.31 kt over 991,415 km2, 24 - 492.14 over 3,848,199 km2, 25 - 413.39 kt over 5,913,587 km2, 26 - 502.47 kt over 7,258,753 km2, 27 - 365.37 kt over 7,674,519 km2, 28 - 386.37 kt over 5,974,922 km2, 29 - 321.01 over 5,912,643 km2, 30 - 238.10 kt over 5,860,779 km2, 31 - 142.69 kt over 4,796,982 km2, 1 - 74.21 kt over 3,674,469 km2.
Soufrière Hills, Montserrat, West Indies	Apr 20, 2005	Apr 20		Apr 20	Erupted April 15th. SO2 mass is 40 tons over 1,777 km2. Data are at 3 km.
Anatahan, Mariana Islands	Apr 5, 2005	Apr 6 - 10		Not available presently	The SO2 mass for these days were: 6 - 90.41 kt over 1,111,937 km2, 7 - 109.76 over 3,021,930 km2, 8 - 85.56 kt over 4,281,157 km2, 9 - 59.03 kt over 3,130,787 km2, 10 - 46.63 kt over 3,846,634 km2.
Manam, Papua New Guinea	Jan 27, 2005	Jan 28 - 31		Not available presently	The SO2 mass for these days were: 28 - 149.84 kt over 1,469,994 km2, 29 - 112.29 over 3,797,061 km2, 30 - 90.88 kt over 4,157,543 km2, 31 - 56.05 kt over 4,092,286 km2.
Popocatépetl, Mexico	Jan 10, 2005	Jan 10		Jan 10	Poppcatépetl began erupting on Jan 9. SO2 mass was 250 tons over an area of 10,865 km2.
	↓2004 ↓
Manam, Papua New Guinea	Oct 31, 2004	Oct 31 - Nov 1		Not available presently	SO2 mass for 10/31 was 14.52 ktons over an area of 95,184 km2. The mass for 11/1 was 15.68 ktons over 450,000 km2.