This image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission on Sept. 30, 2021, shows the flow of lava from the volcano erupting on the Spanish island of La Palma. The cascade of lava can be seen spilling into the Atlantic Ocean, extending the size of the coastline. This lava delta covered about 20 hectares when the image was taken.
A crack opened in the Cumbre Vieja volcano on Sept. 19, 2021, throwing plumes of ash and lava into the air. Lava flowed down the mountain and through villages, engulfing everything in its path. By Sept. 28, the 6-kilometer lava flow had reached the ocean on the island's west coast. Clouds of white steam were reported where the red-hot lava hit the water in the Playa Nueva area.
This Sentinel-2 image has been processed in true color, using the shortwave infrared channel to highlight the lava flow.
Image Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2021), processed by ESA.
