ISS Astronauts Share Great View of Pavlof Volcano Eruption From Space

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) photographed this striking view of Pavlof Volcano on May 18, 2013. The oblique perspective from the ISS reveals the three dimensional structure of the ash plume, which is often obscured by the top-down view of most remote sensing satellites.

Alaska's Pavlof Volcano has been spewing ash and lava since May 13 and has forced regional flight cancellations. Pavlof Volcano is located in the Aleutian island range, which is southwest of mainland Alaska. Since 1980, it's experienced eruptions every few years

When the image, denominated ISS036-E-2105, was taken, the space station was about 750 kilometers south-southeast of the volcano (49.1* North latitude, 157.4* West longitude). The 6,000 meters high volcanic plume extended southeastward over the North Pacific Ocean.

Currently, seismic tremors and gas and steam emissions are continuing at Pavlof volcano. Although the acitivity to date has been characterized by relatively low-energy lava fountaining and ash emissions, more energetic explosions could occur without warning, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.