Earth from Orbit: LaSoufriere Erupts

“This Week in Weather” is now “Earth from Orbit.” We’ve updated the name of our weekly video series to better reflect NOAA satellites’ vast capabilities that extend beyond weather. On the morning of April 9, 2021, La Soufrière volcano on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent began erupting, spewing ash at least 25,000 feet in the air. The volcano continued to erupt over the next several days, with multiple violent explosions. NOAA satellites captured stunning imagery of the eruptions and provided critical monitoring of the resulting volcanic emissions and ash clouds. Ash blanketed Saint Vincent and winds carried ash to Barbados, about 120 miles east. The region is preparing for possibly weeks of ashfall events, as volcanic activity shows no signs of dying down. A violent eruption on April 12 generated pyroclastic flows, a high-density mix of hot lava blocks, pumice, ash, and volcanic gas that moves at very high speeds down volcanic slopes. The eruptions also caused widespread power outages and evacuations.