Lava flows, Mt. Etna, Italy Click Image to Enlarge  (JPG) (323 KB) ( 1,600 x 2,000 )

The current eruption of Mt. Etna started on July 17, 2001and has continued to the present (august 3, 2001). This ASTER image was acquired on Sunday, July 29 and shows advancing lava flows on the southern flank of Mt. Etna above the town of Nicolosi, which is potentially threatened if the eruption increases in magnitude. Also visible are glowing summit craters above the main lava flows, and a small fissure eruption. The bright puffy clouds were formed from water vapor released during the eruption. The image covers an area of 24 x 30 km. The image is centered at 37.7 degrees north latitude, 15 degrees east longitude.