Eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano, Indonesia
Anak Krakatau is an active volcano in the Sunda Strait, between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It entered into a period of sustained eruptive activity on 4 September 2026 which lasted around 25 hours.
This image, generated with data acquired by the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite on 6 September 2026, shows elevated concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) associated with the eruption. The plume extends for hundreds of kilometres west over the Indian Ocean, with higher concentrations visualised in red tones.
The atmospheric monitoring capabilities of Copernicus Sentinel-5P support the detection and tracking of volcanic gas and ash emissions, which are a hazard for aviation safety, and support air quality assessments and climate studies.
