RUSSIA Tolbachik Volcano -- 01 Dec 2012 -- In late November 2012, Tolbachik Volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula

RUSSIA Tolbachik Volcano -- 01 Dec 2012 -- In late November 2012, Tolbachik Volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula began erupting, the first time the volcano has been active in 36 years, according to Denison University volcanologist Erik Klemetti. Several days later, the volcano remained restless. The Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite captured this view of Tolbachik on December 1, 2012. This image shows volcanic plumes and a lava flow. Klemetti reported that the eruption in late November occurred along two fissures. In these images, volcanic plumes—likely a combination of ash, water vapor, and other gases—apparently emerge from an east-west crack on the volcano surface. South of the plumes and the lava flow, multiple volcanic cones litter the surface of Tolbachik, casting shadows to the north in the low-angled sunlight. Tolbachik is a shield volcano—a low-profile, broad structure with a shape resembling an ancient warrior shield. The volcano has a complex configuration, and the eruptive activity in late November reportedly occurred around the southern cone -- Picture by Lightroom Photos/NASA