Revealing the Beauty of Volcanic Activity through Satellite Imagery

As a volcanologist working as a volcano co-guide and news editor for VolcanoDiscovery for the past four years, I find monitoring volcanic activity through satellites to be among the most fundamental sources to keep and manage up-to-date volcanic events as they occur worldwide. The use of remote sensing has prompted me to delve into the principles of remote sensing, programming, and modern applications.

Approximately a year ago, I began exploring various integrated evalscript values on EO Browser, a platform that has become a fundamental source for monitoring volcanic events. Back then, I only used predefined volcano themes with zero experience with digital art.

The Sentinel's comprehensive education workflow webpage became a valuable resource, offering webinars, tutorials, user guides, and a collection of useful custom scripts. Inspired by the satellite imagery processing skills of Pierre Markuse and Iban Ameztoy, I ventured into image processing, primarily focusing on Sentinel-2 and occasionally Sentinel-3 combinations, emphasizing thermal anomalies of volcanoes with natural colour visualizations. Even though there are plenty of combinations, I like this compound by far the most. To enhance satellite images, I employ QGIS for georeferencing and raster graphics editors for aesthetic improvements.

Over time, I expanded my repertoire to include synthetic-aperture (SAR) radar animations and datasets from Sentinel-1. From a volcanological point of view, I find SAR animations powerful since SAR can penetrate through darkness, clouds, and rain and is highly capable of detecting lava flow development, erosion resulting from eruptive activity, etc.

Beyond this, I have delved into creating optical visualizations and 3D animations, showcasing the versatility of satellite data.

The EO Browser's user-friendly interface, coupled with abundant data sources and diverse predefined views, has made it an indispensable tool. I find myself visiting the platform frequently, captivated by its ability to provide a visually stunning and unique perspective of Earth's landscapes.
In conclusion, EO Browser by Sinergise stands out as a remarkable tool that brings the marvels of Earth's landscapes to our fingertips, harnessing the capabilities of satellite imagery for a comprehensive understanding of our planet.

The animated gif compiled from Sentinel-1 radar images shows the evolution of Anak Krakatau volcano since late 2018 when most of its summit cone collapsed, triggering a deadly tsunami. In the months and years after this event, continued activity has been filling the initial crater lake and is now in the process of growing a new cone in its place.


The active Santiaguito lava dome (Guatemala) has been in a state of steady eruption for many years. Viscous lava is rising and accumulating in the active dome, as well as forming slow-moving lava flows. This time-lapse from satellite imagery shows the emplacement of a new lava flow on the SW side, reaching several km length over an interval of approx. 3 years compressed into 6 seconds.

Monitoring Volcanoes from Space: the use of satellite imagery and data

Monitoring volcanic activity is a crucial aspect of disaster management and risk assessment, given its profound impact on both the environment and human populations. In recent years, technological advancements, particularly in satellite imagery, have revolutionized the way scientists can study and monitor volcanoes.