Dramatic Image Shows Volcano's Lightning

[Tab]

For the first time, scientists have been able to “see” and trace lightning inside a plume of ash spewing from an actively erupting volcano.

When Alaska's Mount Redoubt volcano began rumbling back to life in January, a team of researchers scrambled to set up a system called a Lightning Mapping Array that would be able to peer through the dust and gas of any eruption that occurred to the lightning storm happening within. Lightning is known to flash in the tumultuous clouds belched out during volcanic eruptions.

The lightning produced when Redoubt finally erupted on March 22 was "prolific," said physicist Paul Krehbiel of New Mexico Tech. Check out the image.

"The lightning activity was as strong or stronger than we have seen in large Midwestern thunderstorms," Krehbiel said. "The radio frequency noise was so strong and continuous that people living in the area would not have been able to watch broadcast VHF television stations.

Although, in theory, with the switch to digital, they couldn't watch them anyway, but the deadline for that was extended to June something. Still, you get the point. Cool pics.

I like to think I know a fair amount about science, but I didn't realize volcanos generate lightning.

More here: http://www.livescience.com/environment/090408-volcano-lightning.html

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Well sure they generate lightning.

[Bucky]

2. To Republicans, this is a huge pork barrelly waste of tax payer money

also proof that Satan lives in a Hell that's literally underneath the earth.

[Warpy]

3. All eruptions generate lightning

as the ash particles generate a tremendous amount of static charge as the roar through the air.

My favorite pics of it were from the Chaiten volcano in Chile:

http://bp0.blogger.com/_ntAYr59RCOs/SCMdIrrd40I/AAAAAAAAAdM/cJdA84fibhM/S1600-R/Chile+Volcano.jpg

[redqueen]

6. Wow.

:wow:

[redqueen]

4. Ooh neat.

I didn't know that either... thanks for the link.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. A friend of mine is an oceanographer

at Woods Hole. He wrote his doctoral dissertation on undersea volcanos - which is where most of them are.

He knows (and shows) amazing stuff. I love volcanos, and Bobby Jindal better not mock spending on watches any more.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Palin sure has pissed off the Fire god.....