Erebus Unveiled: The Antarctic Peak's Dramatic Emergence

The summit crater of Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano in the world, emerged above the clouds in a stunning satellite image captured by Landsat 9. Standing at 3,794 meters above sea level, Mount Erebus is part of the Ross Island volcanoes in West Antarctica. The volcano's volcanic activity is attributed to the thinning of the Earth's crust, allowing magma to ascend to the surface. The image also reveals a long-lived lava lake in the summit crater, which has been active since at least 1972. Geologists are studying the lake to understand why it has persisted for so long, with recent research suggesting low water content in the magma as a possible reason.