- Submarine Volcano eruption near Minami Iwo Island -
ASTER VNIR L1B

Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba Submarine Volcano that lies near Minami Iwo Island erupted on 2nd July. Minami Iwo Island lies about 1200km to the south from Tokyo. Emergency observation of ASTER on 5th July succeeded in capturing change in ocean color and some floating substances near the island.

The image is focused on the island at its center that appears white due to the effect of the overall light up of the image. Water body at the northeast of the island appears blue, reflecting the change in ocean color caused by the eruption. Irregular white threads that stretch over the ocean southwest from the island, are pumices and other floating substances that had been spewed out of the volcano.

Image interpretation by : Minoru Urai (AIST), ASTER Science Team Member