I can’t ever recall seeing a more stunning image of a volcanic eruption. The ash plume from it has spread quite a bit. What effect will it have?
From NASA Earth Observatory (h/t to “Tamara” on the new WUWT Tips and Notes Page)
A fortuitous orbit of the International Space Station allowed the astronauts this striking view of Sarychev Volcano (Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan) in an early stage of eruption on June 12, 2009. 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. 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.
This detailed astronaut photograph is exciting to volcanologists because it captures 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 June 12. 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 eruption cleared a circle in the cloud deck. The clearing may result from the shockwave from the eruption or from sinking air around the eruption plume: as the plume rises, air flows down around the sides like water flowing off the back of a surfacing dolphin. As air sinks, it tends to warm and expand; clouds in the air evaporate.
In contrast, the smooth white cloud on top may be water condensation that resulted from rapid rising and cooling of the air mass above the ash column. This cloud, which meteorologists call a pileus cloud, is probably a transient feature: the eruption plume is starting to punch through. The structure also indicates that little to no shearing wind was present at the time to disrupt the plume. (Satellite images acquired 2-3 days after the start of activity illustrate the effect of shearing winds on the spread of the ash plumes across the Pacific Ocean.)
By contrast, a cloud of denser, gray ash—probably a pyroclastic flow—appears to be hugging the ground, descending from the volcano summit. The rising eruption plume casts a shadow to the northwest of the island (image top). Brown ash at a lower altitude of the atmosphere spreads out above the ground at image lower left. Low-level stratus clouds approach Matua Island from the east, wrapping around the lower slopes of the volcano. Only about 1.5 kilometers of the coastline of Matua Island (image lower center) are visible beneath the clouds and ash.
Previous Image in this Event
June 10, 2009
Sarychev Eruption Generates Large Cloud of Sulfur Dioxide
Next Image in this Event
June 18, 2009
Ash Plume Overlying Clouds at Sarychev Peak
View all images of this event
Sarychev Peak Eruption, Kuril Islands
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I would like to offer the suggestion that the hole in the cloud is created by radiant heat (infra red) from the volcano plume (micro sized hot rock) being absorbed into the water mist of a cloud – evaporating it.
Of course we know, water absorbes IR much better than Air or CO2 so the IR energy could pass to the water without heating the surrounding air.
Oh yeah, I forgot. Great photo!
Like Al Gore said: “The Earth is running a fever.”
I guess that was a big Earth sneeze… Gesundheit!
REPLY: so what does that make lava bombs?
Jeff Id (14:10:36) :
I think this is all a question of dew point of the air at that altitude.
As you know, clouds form when the dew point temperature is equal or hier than the ambient temperature. The more water in the air, the higher the dew point is. Dry air has a very low dew point.
So, if the volcanic plume and “shockwave” would have pushed the cloud cover to higher altitude, that would have just made a big “bubble” in the clouds and not a hole.
Sucking down the cloud layer would bring it to a warmer temperature and that would dissipate the clouds.
The amount of water and its dew point in the plume will condense into clouds pretty much anywhere as soon as it comes out of the hot core. This is why radiant heat from the plume might not exactly be the explanation since we see that the plume is fairly cold on the outside.
Ray (14:26:23) :
Like Al Gore said: “The Earth is running a fever.”
I guess that was a big Earth sneeze… Gesundheit!
REPLY: so what does that make lava bombs?
NASTY!
carlbrannen (13:31:31) :
“As air sinks, it tends to warm and expand; clouds in the air evaporate.”
So why not finish your thought? As air descends it is compressed, warms, and water droplets dissipate to the gaseous state. If NASA doesn’t understand this why should those reading here that have not had a basic science course?
“As air sinks, it tends to warm and expand…”
As air sinks, it compresses, that’s why it warms.
Atmospheric pressure is higher, the closer you come to the earth, that’s what compresses air that is forced down.
When air expands, it cools.
Look out for reports describing any circular motion in the erupting volcanic clouds, possibly associated with lightning or electrical activity. A previous discovery reported and referred to in AIG News Issue 96 (www.aig.org.au) described a slow rotating vortex at the volcanic vent.
In terms of the Plasma Model, the earth is regarded as a leaky capacitor and volcanic eruptions as “leaks” discharging to the surface.
I am bush for next weeks, (drilling program) so can’t follow up on this until I get back.
Ray (14:26:23) :
Like Al Gore said: “The Earth is running a fever.”
I guess that was a big Earth sneeze… Gesundheit!
REPLY: so what does that make lava bombs?
NASTY!
Lava bombs would be the boogers. LOL
I can’t see the pics and the link appears broken. Is the NASA site down or is it my PC?
Pretty healthy SO2 cloud across the N. Latitudes of N. America.
http://satepsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/pub/OMI/OMISO2/index.html
Good, 1905, 1906, 1914, 1918, 1919, 1924, 1933, 1943, 1946, 1948, 1976, 1978, … 1954, Dreadful vintage. 1955, Aged exceptionally well producing wines of ….. Outstanding, 1864, 1865, 1906, 1928, 1947, 1962, 1966, 1986, 1989, 1996.
54 was a real bummer, but the 09’s could be worth buying?
Sandy (13:40:46) :
Good thing Hansen got arrested. This is Gaia’s submission to the Mountain Top Removal debate, which is fairly unanswerable.
Superb mate. Superb.
You can go check it out on Google Earth before it blew up at 47deg00’41.20″N, 152deg06’54.56″E
You will also see that it’s sister volcano blew up also some time ago.
In anycase, I think we will have some magnificent sunset soon on the west coast.
Awesome pic – makes a great wallpaper.
However:
don’t tarp me bro (11:50:43) :
“This of course feeds CO2 into the atmosphere. It also can generate heat for the Ocean currents and influenfce the PDO. In the “climate models” these events are totally disregarded.”
Nope. Climate models do represent volcanic eruptions. Where did you get your information that they do not?
Pliny the Younger would recognize the feature at the top of the image where you see the pyroclastic flow dispersing over water.
I would subscribe to the hypothesis that the hole in the clouds is a product of the blast wave rather than any radiant heating. The NASA folks suggest this and point to the condensing vapor at the top of the plume as a related feature.
A truly incredible photo.
Thanks for the link Anthony!
Eruptions like this happen all the time, all over the world. All the while man, in his arrogance, claims he is the primary driver of the Earth.
This is why I could never be an astronaut. I would spend all my time staring out the window, watching the world go by.
Poor Redoubt gets kicked to the curb.
Were there any predictions that this event was going to happen, or was it a total surprise?
That’s a bewdy! I knew that space station was good fer sumfink;-)
Here’s another good one…a bit closer to home for me though.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/38000/38994/lakeeyre_tm5_2009161_lrg.jpg
Sorry, should have stated what and where, usually dry Lake Eyre in South Australia.
I’m sure Gaia is quite happy, although perhaps content is a better word.
You know, in the way a cow is happily content to cut a nice, long fart in the shed after a lovely day of grazing. Ahhh. Feels good. Or gooder.
Looks like about a year of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions in just that one photo. So much for our carbon credits.
Good to know the ISS is good for something.
Nasty? No, it’ snot.
Do not meddle in the affairs of mother nature, for she is fairly unanswerable.