NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

St. Helens' Hot Spots

NASA is using its unique resources to keep an eye on the renewed volcanic activity at Mount St. Helens in Washington state.

NASA scientists took these visible and infrared (IR) digital images of the mountain on Tuesday, Oct. 12, that show an increase in the number of hot spots as well as a plume of smoke coming from the crater. Bright red in the crater indicates hot spots, and blue indicates snow and the plume.

Researchers used the MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER) digital imaging system to acquire the infrared data. MASTER is an airborne simulator instrument similar to the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) high-resolution infrared imager carried on NASA's Terra Earth observation satellite.

Photo Credit: NASA/JPL

+ Full Left Image
+ Full Right Image
+ Oct 1 Photo from the International Space Station

Related Stories:
+ NASA Infrared Images May Provide Clues About Mt. St. Helens' Eruption
+ NASA Looks Back as St. Helens Trembles Again