Amazing pictures: The lightning storm that engulfed an erupting volcano

Daily Mail ^ | 7th May 2008 | MICHAEL HANLON

[xcamel]

Few sights in nature can compare to the sheer magnificence of a volcano erupting in full flow.

But while scenes of molten lava are relatively commonplace, this otherworldly picture of Chaiten Volcano in southern Chile shows a truly spectacular, and devastating, volcanic phenomenon.

[xcamel]

wow...

[goldstategop]

Howza! Out of this world!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[TexasNative2000]

And I'm supposed to stop using my charcoal grill because it might harm the environment........

[I Drive Too Fast]

Electrical activity over volcano awesome picture ping. (say that 5 times fast)

[saganite]

If we could only reproduce that in a lava lamp we’d all be rich!

[loungeSerf]

Awesome display!

Why did that image conjure up Mars Attacks or Bride of Frankenstein?

[Redcitizen]

Ultimate ZOT!

[steve86]

I see the face of Beezelbub. Clear as Hades.

[Redcloak]

Orodruin?

[Redcitizen]

“Why did that image conjure up Mars Attacks or Bride of Frankenstein?”

Because you have some popcorn to pop and some spare time?

[EQAndyBuzz]

that that that that that...

Someone was going to do it :)

[steve86]

That one green lightning bolt is a nice touch.

[Judith Anne]

Yes. Me too.

[martin_fierro]

That's almost as awesome as a liger.

[Alouette]

Why did that image conjure up Mars Attacks or Bride of Frankenstein?

I think it looks like Satan wearing a turban with verses from the Koran.

[Hadean]

This planet never ceases to amaze me.

[SE Mom]

WOW!! That’s stunning.

[TMSuchman]

The fingernail of GOD in action!

[Dog Gone]

I wish that was my brain on drugs.

At least it would be showing activity.

[ConservativeMind]

Beautiful photos of the Chaiten volcano.

[neodad]

Algore is deeply saddened.

[UCANSEE2]

Whouda thunk?

[Argus]

I see the face of Obama.

[UCANSEE2]

Looks more like a giant alien brain.

[spunkets]

"And I'm supposed to stop using my charcoal grill because it might harm the environment..."

No, but if you ever get to grillin' up a smokey plume on a mountain top during a t-storm, make sure yah smile, get some pics and post 'em here.

[fightinJAG]

Thanks! That is awesome.

[navyguy]

Killer diller. Thanks for the post!

[lesser_satan]

Bred for its skills in magic.

[rmlew]

Truly an awe inspiring and sublime sight

[reagan_fanatic]

Oh my God.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks for posting that. I saw it a day ago (?) on a local meteorologist’s ‘blog, clouds, lightning bolts, very cool.

[NCBraveheart]

And they say there is no God.

[reagan_fanatic]

Looks more like a giant alien brain

Could be.



Then again, it could also be the vericose veins in Hillary's legs.

[giotto]

I’d love to see the fused glassy rock that would result from lightening striking a flow of lava. What would it look like? Any geologists lurking?

[Rebelbase]

Looks like a Dune sand worm with a short circuit.

[Professional Engineer]

ping

[mylife]

More pics here http://megagalerias.terra.cl/galerias/index.cfm?id_galeria=30734

[LiberConservative]

I see the face of Beezelbub.

I see the face of Al Gore, but you know they all look alike.

[LiberConservative]

#8 looks just like a giant, demonic buffalo’s head.

[xcamel]

Check these out - Amazing.

[steve86]

Why would it fuse? It's still hot if flowing. Wouldn't any trace of the strike be obliterated? (I'm mainly thinking of ʻaʻa and Pahoehoe type flows -- not sure what the "spewed lava" looks like at Chaiten)

[mylife]

I wish you could enlarge them.

[knittnmom]

Very awesome. I’m saving that one!

[leda]

what an amazing photo!

[mylife]

Indeed it does!

[LibFreeOrDie]

Pics here of fused sand caused by lightning, and a lightning track thru rock:

http://www.stormblogging.com/?p=40

[Grizzled Bear]

Wow! Some of those look like the monsters in Japanese movies I watched as a child!

[mylife]

pretty remarkable sequence of shots

[SuziQ]

This awesome phenomenon was seen during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. A large eruption creates it’s own weather system!

[ZULU]

AWESOME!!!