Jul 30 1967
From The Space Library
NASA's Nimbus II meteorological satellite had made the first well-substantiated observation from space of a volcanic eruption when it recorded the eruption of Iceland's Surtsey volcano in 1966, US. Geological Survey reported. "During August 1966, the Nimbus II satellite was in a near-polar orbit and passed over the island the day after the eruption began with its infrared sensing devices working. The Surtsey eruption in its entirety was recorded as a minute black spot on infrared images during more than eight orbital sweeps of the Nimbus II satellite-first on August 20 and definitely identified as late as October 3." Nimbus II was participating in a three-dimensional study of Surtsey by scientists from US. Geological Survey and AFCRL using infrared survey techniques. Experiment marked first time volcanic heat had been monitored almost simultaneously from ground, aircraft, and space. Scientists believed the ability to measure heat radiation could be applied to studies of volcanoes on the earth, moon, and planets. (USGS Release, 7/30/67; Clark, NYT, 7/30/67,41)
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