SEANGWORLD FACT BRIEF · SEANGWORLDNEWS · 1 SOURCE
Landsat 8 satellite captures heat from Mount Michael's persistent lava lake on Saunders Island
On August 24, 2026, NASA's Landsat 8 satellite acquired an image of Mount Michael, a stratovolcano on Saunders Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. The image, including infrared data, revealed heat from a frequently active lava lake within the volcano's summit crater. A volcanic plume and darkened snow on the northern slopes indicated ongoing volcanic activity. Mount Michael is part of the South Sandwich Islands, formed by tectonic subduction, and has experienced regular eruptions in recent centuries. Satellite thermal observations over 30 years, including data from Landsat, Sentinel, ASTER, MODIS, and VIIRS instruments, have confirmed the volcano's persistent lava lake and continuing low-intensity activity. These satellites also detect regular sulfur dioxide emissions from the volcano. One week later, on September 1, 2026, satellite imagery captured wave clouds formed by winds disturbed by the island's peak and signs of volcanic sulfur dioxide degassing. These findings provide ongoing remote monitoring of this remote volcanic region (NASA, sourceId: nasa-news-releases).
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Facts
- Established fact
On August 24, 2026, Landsat 8 acquired an image showing heat from a persistent lava lake in Mount Michael's summit crater on Saunders Island.
- Established fact
Mount Michael is a stratovolcano located on Saunders Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, part of the South Sandwich Islands volcanic chain.
- Established fact
Thermal satellite data from instruments including Landsat, Sentinel, ASTER, MODIS, and VIIRS have indicated persistent low-intensity volcanic activity and sulfur dioxide emissions at Mount Michael over recent years.
- Established fact
On September 1, 2026, satellite images showed wave clouds formed downwind of Saunders Island due to air flow disturbed by the island's peak and evidence of volcanic sulfur dioxide degassing.
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