Volcano Visualizations
Compiled by John McDaris and Kendra Murray at SERC.
This collection presents links to visualizations of volcanoes and volcanic processes. Visualizations include general depictions of igneous processes as well as work done on real volcanos on Earth and around the solar system.
Io in Eclipse (more info) : This short mpeg clip shows footage from the Cassini spacecraft of the surface of Jupiter's moon, Io, during a time when Jupiter is blocking the sun's light. The bright spots on surface are the glows of several volcanoes on the surface.
Earthscope - Augustine Visualization (more info) : Augustine is a stratovolcano located in Cook Inlets just outside of Anchorage, AK. This page from the Earthscope project presents a map of the island, a photo galley and two 360 degree panaoramas of the island (one interactive and the other a movie).
Savage Earth Animation: Volcanic Eruption (more info) : PBS presents an annotated flash animation of a stratovolcano. The text simply describes the features of the volcano, its characteristic eruption, and details about pyroclastic flows.
How Volcanoes Work: Dynamics of a Plinian Eruption (more info) : A QuickTime animation of a plinian eruption in cross section view. A variety of pressure surfaces exist within the magma column beneath the erupting volcano, and within the eruption column above the volcano. The site includes describes the nature of these pressure surfaces and explains the dynamic processes associated with the eruption model. It also includes a 3D fly by animation of the eruption model.
Volcano Animation: Mt. Kilauea (more info) : The final animation in JPL's Our Restless Planet animation archive. This 4 MB QuickTime animation shows the Kamoamoa lava flow on Mt. Kilauea in Hawaii spreading towards the ocean. Data in the forms of visible, infrared and thermal infrared imagery was acquired using the NASA C-130 remote sensing research aircraft between September 3 and 17, 1995. The combination of image and elevation data results in the visualization of interaction between the local topolographic gradient and the velocity and morphology of the flows. A full-sized QuickTime animation (29 MB) is also available.
Volcano Animation: Mt. Etna (more info) : The second to last animation in JPL's Our Restless Planet animation archive. This 4 MB QuickTime animation depicts ground deformation associated with magma intrusion at Mount Etna, Italy. The steady inflation of edifice occurred from 1993 to 1995 and culminated in resumption of eruption activity in late 1995. Ground deformation data are derived from Diff. Radar Interferometry and is represented by color contours. Ground deformation predicted by Point Source (Mogi) Model is represented by animated deformation of Digital Elevation Models. Ground deformation has been exaggerated 30,000 times, and the maximum inflation of the edifice was 12 cm.
Video Clips on VolcanoWorld (more info) : This site provides eruption video footage of Stromboli, Mt. Etna, Fogo, and Kilauea. From multiple sources, these clips are small and often grainy, but contain stunning footage of active eruptions.
Video Clips of the 12 May 1996 Pyroclastic Activity: Pyroclastic Flow Meets the Atlantic Ocean! Montserrat Volcano Observatory (more info) : For centuries, volcanologists have debated about the fate of pyroclastic flows that come in contact with bodies of water. On 12 May 1996, on the tiny island of Montserrat, a series of three pyroclastic flows cascaded off the unstable dome and raced towards the Atlantic Ocean and were captured on film.
Sulfur Volcano on Io (more info) : A 3D QuickTime simulation of Io's Pillan Patera sulfur volcano.
