Pictures: Volcano Lightning Electrifies Japan Eruption

[Lastactiongyro]

Source: National Geographic

Lightning crackles over Japan on Friday as ash and lava erupt from Shinmoedake peak, one of the calderas of the Kirishima volcano complex.

Shinmoedake began erupting Wednesday, coating nearby villages and farms with ash and prompting authorities to ask for voluntary evacuations within a 1.2-mile (2-kilometer) radius.

Volcanic lightning is still a mystery, though it may be that electrically charged silica—part of magma—interacts with the atmosphere when it flies out of a volcano, Steve McNutt of the Alaska Volcano Observatory told National Geographic News in February 2010.

Pictures Here:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/pictures/110128-james-bond-volcano-eruption-lightning-japan-science-kirishima/

Read more: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/pictures/110128-james-bond-volcano-eruption-lightning-japan-science-kirishima/

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Wow...

Cool pics.
Thanks.

[frazzled]

2. Amazing pix, but it's really starting to feel like the Apocalypse

How much more can this nation take? And it isn't over yet.

[tabatha]

3. Yes, it is depressing.

I snapped at some one today - I think it is the general feeling of depression on what is going on everywhere. I can hardly sleep at night.

[glinda]

5. My father (WW2) had to take two sleeping pills the other night. He was upset.

[doc03]

4. Man what else can happen? I am starting to believe the 2012

stuff.

[calimary]

6. Feels kinda weird, doesn't it?

I don't like this a bit. Upheaval EVERYWHERE. Even Mother Nature has joined in. A lot of man-made mess, but Nature's power trumps it all.