Awesome Eruption

Astronauts on board the International Space Station took this striking view of Sarychev Volcano on 12 June.

Astronauts on board the International Space Station took this striking view of Sarychev Volcano (Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan) on 12 June. Notice the shock wave around the edge of the volcano’s plume and the ‘hole’—the clouds that the eruption caused. Sarychev Peak is one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril Island chain, and it is located on the northwestern end of Matua Island. Volcanologists say the images taken by the astronauts are exciting because they capture several phenomena that occur during the earliest stages of an explosive volcanic eruption. The main column is one of a series of plumes that rose above Matua Island on 12 June. The plume appears to be a combination of brown ash and white steam. The vigorously rising plume gives the steam a bubble-like appearance. The clearing in the cloud deck could be due to the shockwave from the eruption or from sinking air around the eruption plume.

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