Volcanic eruption seen from space
Above is a photo taken from the International Space Station of Sarychev Volcano, Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan, erupting earlier this month. From NASA:
Prior to June 12, the last explosive eruption occurred in 1989, with eruptions in 1986, 1976, 1954, and 1946 also producing lava flows. Ash from the multi-day eruption has been detected 2,407 kilometers east-southeast and 926 kilometers west-northwest of the volcano, and commercial airline flights are being diverted away from the region to minimize the danger of engine failures from ash intake.Sarychev Peak Eruption, Kuril Islands
This detailed astronaut photograph is exciting to volcanologists because it captures several phenomena that occur during the earliest stages of an explosive volcanic eruption.
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David Pescovitz
Collector of anomalies, esoterica, and curiosities.
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