Interesting Insights
Location: Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy [37.75358362, 14.99436372]
What does the image depict? A flow of lava cascading down the volcano during a significant eruption.
Which satellite captured the image? Copernicus Sentinel-2
Date of Capture: June 2, 2025
The satellite image showcases the shimmering “River of Fire” winding down the slopes of Mount Etna. During the explosive event, a massive plume of ash, smoke, and volcanic gases surged into the atmosphere over Sicily.
On June 2nd, shortly after 11:20 AM local time, a scorching avalanche of ash, known as a pyroclastic flow, erupted. A sudden blast from near the summit of Mount Etna cascaded down its western slope. Experts speculate that rapid emissions were released due to a partial collapse of the volcanic caldera. The dramatic explosion prompted tourists to rush for safety, but fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
During the eruption, the volcanic plume soared up to 4 miles (6.5 km) above the largest active volcano in Europe. These plumes contain sulfur dioxide, a toxic element that can be dangerous at high levels. Fortunately, the eruption subsided after about six hours, thus minimizing the long-term environmental impacts of the plumes.
A Copernicus satellite effectively monitored the eruption above Sicily. I captured an incredible image of the lava flow, which diverged from the pyroclastic flow. The luminous river drew considerable attention, although the molten rock did not extend into more densely populated regions.
The vivid lava is contrasted against dark areas of terrain stretching toward the Mediterranean, potentially misinterpreted as the sizeable shadow of a mountain standing at 11,013 feet (3,357 meters). In reality, these dark regions are remnants of fossilized magma from earlier eruptions.
Related: Explore all the breathtaking images of Earth from space
(Image credit: Fabrizio Villa/Contributor via Getty Images)
Chris Hadfield, a retired astronaut and former ISS commander, shared satellite visuals. On Social Platform X on June 3rd, he remarked, “I’ve witnessed eruptions during my six months on the ISS, but yesterday’s event at Mount Etna was astonishing.”
The vista of lava cascading from the volcanic peak is a stark reminder that “we exist atop a fragile crust above a boiling rock inferno.”
Explosive Eruptions
According to the Smithsonian Institution, Mount Etna has been intermittently active since November 2022 Global Volcanic Program. However, most of this period has been relatively quiet, with the mountain occasionally rumbling, emitting small lava flows and even creating massive, perfectly circular smoke rings.
This latest eruption marks the most explosive phase since 2021, during the previous eruption period that extended from September 2013 to June 2022. In that stage, the volcano produced over 100 feet (30 m) of material in just six months after experiencing 50 consecutive eruptions between March and August 2021.
Initially, some reports claimed that this recent explosion was the largest since 2014, but this has since been deemed inaccurate.
Mount Etna has had over 30 distinct eruption phases in the past century, with approximately 76.5 years of dormancy between them. The heightened activity levels can be attributed to its location on the boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates and the significant accumulation of volcanic gases within the magma chamber.
The eruptions are often visible from outer space: in March 2021, Landsat satellites captured striking images of lava flowing down the mountain’s slopes, and in February 2022, astronauts aboard the ISS photographed a volcanic plume rising above Sicily.
Source: www.livescience.com