The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this image of Sakura-jima, a volcano in southern Japan, venting ash over Kagoshima Bay on October 27, 2014 at 1:15 pm local time. On October 28, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported ash from the volcano rising to an altitude of 2.4 kilometers (7,900 feet) as it drifted south. Sakura-jima is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. Historical records dating back to the 8th century note frequent eruptions and ashfall on the nearby city of Kagoshima.
NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response. Caption by Adam Voiland.
