103 Responses to “Volcano Erupts During Lightning Storm”
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May 7th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I think you need to revisit the title. It should read the other way around according to modern volcanic science: “Lightning Storm During Volcanic Eruption”.
“As clouds of toxic ash and dust tower into the sky, they ionise the air, generating an explosive electrical storm. Colossal forks of lightning spark around the noxious plume as it spews from the volcano’s crater, creating an image of raw, terrifying energy - as if the air itself were ablaze.”
The Associated Press paraphrasing and sensationalizing (it sells) scientists monitoring this event.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:45 am
this has got to be the coolest picture ever!!!!
May 8th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Matt, you are absolutely correct.
May 8th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
a simple nice pic would have done just fine i am sure but thanks for the science lesson i am sure that the photographer just saw a nice shot and took it shots like that dont come often so good job to the one behind the camera
May 8th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Matt is right. You need to change the title. The volcano has caused the lightning. It didn’t coincide with it. The explanation given by Matt is much more interesting and you know…fact based.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Would be nice to get that picture in a higher res or HD. Can’t find it bigger anywhere on the net.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Whatever the title it’s a gorgeous photo of a spectacular event.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Don’t be a bitch.
The poster of the Info can name it anything they like.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Are there any high resolution pics of that?
May 8th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
We know more about Mars than our own earth and whats at the bottom of our oceans, Awsome photo !!!
May 8th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
way cool picture there
May 8th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
It’s pretty darned sensational either way round to be honest.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/07/lightning-storm-generated-by-chilean-volcano-images/
“Lightning can happen as a result of a volcanic eruption. As the hot ash rises through the cooler atmosphere, transfer of charge occurs. This excess of electrons within the cloud makes it act like a capacitor, and should the conditions be correct, huge electrical discharges may be observed as bolts of lightning during volcanic eruptions. It seems that the Chaiten volcano’s recent activity has created the perfect conditions for such a show, allowing photographers in the region to capture some stunning images.”
The title does need to be changed.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I agree with Mr. Brown on this one, in my opinion, lightning storms are just a little more common than volcanic eruptions, but what do i matter.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Who cares what it’s called? It looks awesome.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Mr. Brown is right. Slightly inaccurate title.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:10 am
I-m a geologist and I agree with Matt. Friction between ash particles creates static electricity. The charges are carried upward by the rising dust and gas. When the electric field strength is greater than the ionization energy of the air, the air breaks down and a spark propagates between ash cloud and ground or between different parts of the ash cloud.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:07 am
This picture reeks of glory.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:13 am
I think it’s pretty clear that the lightning triggered the volcano eruption, superheating the weak mantle where it hit and allowing the already high levels of gas and magma to burst forth. I don’t know where you armchair weathermen are getting your facts but this is a pretty common geologic phenomenon.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:20 am
So what you guys are saying is that it is more of a volcanic electrical storm?? Well, I am sure you will be sure to state it that way on your own blog. In the meanwhile, lay off the nit–pickery!!
May 9th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Tell you what, you guys manage to take a shot like that, and then you can give us a science lesson and name it correctly. Me? I’d rather just appreciate good art then get my panties in a bunch like you guys over a scientific naming mishap.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Who cares, look at the great picture.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Photoshopped
…
Just kidding!
Looks pretty hellish to me. Would like to have seen it for myself. That’s the sort of thing that would scared the hell out of the locals a few hundred years ago - the gods are angry! Sacrifice more virgins!
May 9th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
It’s true that this is an amazing photo, accurate title or not. Thanks for posting it!
There’s certainly nothing shameful about not knowing the science behind a phenomenon. But now that we DO know the science, I have to side with Matt and his band that the title ought to be updated to reflect his new knowledge. Given the URL (NYNerd), I’d think the author would agree.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
It’s crazy that with a picture this amazing, people are bothered with the trifles of the title. Comment on the picture if you have to, but leave your perceived ignorance of the poster out of it.
Great find. Would love a higher res version for myself.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I am the INTERNET and require that the title of this article be changed. The internet is for truth and facts. Everything on the internet must be believed.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I’m a volcano and I agree with Matt as well.
FEAR MY POWER! I CAN IONIZE!
May 9th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Matt is right, and all the people who say they don’t care, or it doesn’t matter are just showing their ignorance. It’s the facts that make a picture all the more interesting. But I guess that doesn’t matter to those who are just looking for non thought provoking entertainment.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
By most definitions the picture is art and the artist can give it any title they wish. Perhaps ‘Thor loses it completely’ or ‘Another slight setback at the picnic’? In any event, the title as given, holds good.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
i believe that the pic can be looked at either way, first being a long complicated voice of opinions on wether or not the title needs changed or second just being a neat picture taken at the right moment. Just my thoughts though.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
How annoying you all are. The picture looks amazing and you are really concerned with a title that, at the end of the day, doesn’t really matter. Please pull your heads out your arses and relax a little.
May 10th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Fantastic picture. For its own sake whether the title is accurate or not doesn’t really matter. However for students doing research it would be really cool if it showed up in web searches using the right keywords, etc. There is so much to learn and so little time. I would recommend changing it for easy later finding, but nonetheless I am awed!
May 10th, 2008 at 1:19 am
here, here. these people have broken my heart. sad, to see something so powerful and beautiful, only to have the moment ever-so-slightly distorted by politics and semantics. what a sorry lot. on a better note, i am amazed by this image (and a bit afraid…)
May 10th, 2008 at 1:52 am
I think that it should be titled to reflect the fact that whether or not the volcano created the lightning, God created both the volcano and the lightning, as well as all of you, and the internet.
Also, I created a double-helix out of peas and toothpicks in the eighth grade.
May 10th, 2008 at 2:38 am
Let’s Whine about Grammar instead…
It’s THAN, not THEN, as in “A is better THAN b” not “A is better THEN B”, or as Cyanide said: “I’d rather just appreciate good art THEN get my panties in a bunch…” (emphasis mine)
Cyanide seems to be saying she/he likes to get his/her panties in a bunch, but only after appreciating good art.
I’m pretty sure they meant to say they’d rather do the art THAN the the panties.
And for all the whiners out there sniveling about the title, stop. You ruin the niceness of the picture with your whining. You should whine about the bad spelling and grammar instead, because more and more, bad spelling and grammar mistakes are making their way into advertisements, LED signs, Junk mail, even billboards. I mean, jeeze, USE THE SPELL CHECKER!
Whine about stuff that matters, like the Illiteracy of America.
:p
May 10th, 2008 at 2:45 am
haha, leave it to the internet to produce a conglomerate of nerds… It’s a picture of lightning and a volcano, get over it and put the measuring stick away
May 10th, 2008 at 3:25 am
I believew the flash from the camera caused the lightning which in effect caused the volcanic eruption. guess no one thought of that
May 10th, 2008 at 3:35 am
the pic is amazing in many different ways from greek gods to the first testament; though the title is set by the artist and lays as is… and the science is that the ash and dust caused the lightening storm to occur… not vice versa.
May 10th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I will go with Matt, but even from a marketing perspective the other title is better. It only adds destructive power to a volcanic eruption.
May 11th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Actually, it’s a picture of my stomach after me and the guys went to this little cantina and ate hot wings and drank Coronas for a few hours……
May 11th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Hey, morons, trying to teach you something about nature isn’t whining or nitpicking. It actually makes the photo MORE awesome to know that the volcano caused the lightening, rather than just being a coincidence. It enhances the awe, not lessens it. Since when was knowing something a bad thing?
May 11th, 2008 at 3:42 am
I think we should elect Matt to be the next president.
May 11th, 2008 at 4:44 am
So what’s the name of the superhero/villain that was just born?
May 11th, 2008 at 9:01 am
the correct information should be available to educate or you mite as well say the picture is of king kong lighting his fart
May 11th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
who cares about the title…. the pic is great… and the photography is great
May 11th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
The title needs work. For maximum sensationalism, rewritten I would have the title this way;
An erupting Volcano begins to develop new lightening powers. Humanity surrenders to this new Vulcan overlord.
May 12th, 2008 at 4:20 am
UFO
FIND OUT MORE AT
THEYLIVE.NING.COM
COPY AND PASTE
May 12th, 2008 at 4:58 am
chicken and eggs over a bolt of lightning and a volcanic erruption,
id rather just appreciate the picture.
May 12th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Artists prefer the artistic value of this photo.
Scientists prefer the scientific value of this photo.
It’s just on how you prefer to look at it.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
to be honest changing the title at this stage would be a bit of a shame. i think the argument for the changing of the title is hilariously insignificant…i would hate for the name to be changed leaving this wealth of insightful comments obsolete. KEEP THE NAME THE SAME
(i have no comment on who is right, although i do find both arguments fascinating)
come to think of it, what i find even more fascinating is that people care so much about being right that they waste valuable time in commenting a picture with the intention of putting everyone else’s opinion to shame.
and then i wonder…why do i?
May 14th, 2008 at 2:13 am
It really makes one feel insignificant doesn’t it?
May 14th, 2008 at 5:35 am
The worst part about this is that every one of you are arguing of the title of the image and missing the big point. This picture wasn’t put here for a science lesson it is her to show the intense beauty of the would around us.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
there are no arguments against changing the name, only for it.
If you dont change it some dumbtard will see this picture and tell all their dumbtard mates who will then go telling other dumbtards and then soon everyone in America will think that there must be a volcano going off somewhere nearby every time the see lightning.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:54 am
Matt has right, it’s exactly what it happens,
That pictures is from a volcano here in my Country, the volcano name is “chaiten” so if you want to see mor pics about it just write “volcan chaiten”. It’s a beautiful picture, but not beautiful for the people of Chaiten… they were evacuated of the zone, and animals (farms animals) are dying because of the ashes, they havent food… it’s a sad true for a great picture
May 15th, 2008 at 4:25 am
I suspect that the photograph was taken for scientific purposes. An accurate title would be appropriate.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:27 am
i think that while yes the name IS incorrect.
expecting him to change it petty.
i also agree that the facts behind it make it all the more amazing.
BUT
as with most nerds the original name change poster forgot that people have feelings. the way in which he spoke was offensive.
That sums it up.
please don’t comment back the R-tards who wish to continue a dead argument.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Can I just add fuel to the fire by pointing out that taking a picture of something that’s happening isn’t art?
I’m another vote for changing the inaccurate title. But then you guessed that from the above pedantry.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Call it whatever you like it still shows the awesome power and beauty of nature, albeit the people that were directly effected probably didn’t see much beauty in it.
May 16th, 2008 at 5:59 am
Just so you know…
It’s all in the eye of the beholder.
Ever heard of “one mans trash, is another mans treasure”?
Well it’s the same thing. YOU may not think it’s art…But others might.
I think it’s beautiful.
Art or not.
Science or not.
There is no right or wrong. He titled it, what he wanted it to be titled… It’s really insignificant as to whether or not it’s correct.
way to make the photographer feel like an idiot… You guys are real nice.
Talk about ignorance.
May 16th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
If I may say, as a devoted nerd and a lover of debate, that you guys are being absurd.
First of all, this picture is absolutely gorgeous and can be appreciate on the level of art. Whether or not it is art is a matter of one’s own opinion, but frankly I see no reason a picture of a real-world thing can’t be art. You’re still taking an actual event and interpreting it in a way so as to share your emotions with others.
Second, the title may OR may not be inaccurate; only the actual artist/photographer knows which started, of all of us, and s/he does not seem inclined to comment.
As for me, I appreciate the science lesson - it was rather interesting - but I maintain you should have just mentioned it and not tried to make suggestions about a decidedly non-science-based, artistic picture of a beautiful and rarely (by me, anyway) seen event.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Oh my god, who gives a shit what it’s called? IT’S A PHOTO.
IT DOES NOT MATTER.
It could be called “OH MY GOD LOOK!” for all it matters.
Cripes.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Both sides are blowing this outta proportion. Matt Brown had a valid point, and maybe it’s a little nitpicky, but it’s more interesting than thousands of posts saying “Sweet pic! Awesome! etc.”
May 16th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
What a stunning photograph. Lost for words.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
And speaking of the title, I bet they put it that way exactly b/c it sounds like a coincidence that way. (And It actually is an awesome pic. Wrath of the gods and all that.)
May 17th, 2008 at 12:30 am
I’m with Epiphani. Great pic, “oh my God look” covers it. This is another in a long list of “Get a life people” blogs.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Christ on a bike, you lot are mental! Ok, so it’s an awesome photo of an awesome natural phenomena which illustrates the beauty and power of the world in which we live. Scientifically, it should be titled “Eruption of Chilean caldera volcano causes massive release of particulates into the atmosphere, providing suitable conditions for the formation of a large electrical storm”. Artistically it should be titled “Sky on fire”.
Now decide whether you’re an artist or a scientist, get on the appropriate side of the fence and shut the hell up!
May 17th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Well said, Epiphani Take it or leave it, the photo is there to enjoy, not to tear people to pieces by showing you went to the next High School level!
(Maybe the Mona Lisa should be re-named the Smiler Lisa?
May 17th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Reminds me Lord Of The Rings.
Awesome photo, nature is so beautiful…
May 17th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
the picture is awsome, do not care for the way to call this natural event. As Epiphani said, ITS A FREAKING PICTURE, mind you all you own shit and just take a look a the picture
May 18th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Actually it does matter. A photographer who works for national geographic took this photo and having it misrepresented on the internet could make him/her look bad. It’s not just a photo, its a beautiful work of art and the photography/video you see in Nat. Geo. is amazing… they deserve proper credit.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Matt was actually pretty nice about the science lesson, it’s pretty mush everyone else who made it into an argument, and it does matter what the photo is called. If it was called GXAXYX nobody would look at it. But still tecknecally the title is correct, becuase a volcano eruption is happening during a lightning storm, even though it caused the lightining storm.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Matt, no matter what you call it….it is an AWESOME picture, thank you for sharing it with all of us!!
May 20th, 2008 at 7:37 am
I saw Mt.St.Helens erupt in 1980 from the west base of Mt. Ranier. There was lightening from the ash cloud but this photo definitely shows a lightening storm in progress, with possible ash induced lightening. The universe is infinitely beautiful. Great shot.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Who cares about the title? Just admire the picture.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
So let me make sure I understand this all. Volcano eruptions can cause lightning. Thus when a volcano erupts and there is a lightning storm it was caused by the volcano. But If a lightning storm were in progress over a volcano that was about to erupt, the volcano would not erupt till after the storm has passed because that would create a coincidence and that is just impossible. Did I get it all right?
I am just really confused because there was so much posted here and it was all so different. I was really enjoying the picture when I first saw it but then as I read the posts it completely changed my mood. I am now so sad. Oh well. Im gonna go back to the top and look at the picture and go on about my day happily. Have a great day everyone.
May 20th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
This is ridiculus, i got half way through the comments before i had to stop, its a pretty picture, i didnt even look at the title
May 20th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Whatever the case with the weather stuff, that is an excellent picture, and I believe that if you look in the background there is in fact a lightening storm, related or not.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:51 am
They are trolling…and it is working great. Don’t fall for this stuff.
Plus, nice pic!
May 21st, 2008 at 4:06 am
This is the most METAL PICTURE EVER!
May 21st, 2008 at 4:18 pm
You all are wrong. Just enjoy the freaking picture.
May 21st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
This photo is stunning. Beautiful albeit tragic.
Also it doesn’t need to be renamed. whoever reads the first few comments will be set straight.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:58 pm
i don’t care what it’s called, it’s still amazing
more proof that God (or the Flying Spagetti Monster, whatever your preference) is an artist
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:43 am
Look closely….
you can see Jesus
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
This picture is proof that people are willfully ignorant. “Who cares how it’s caused? It’s beautiful.” WE CARE. THAT’S WHO. Just because you prefer to remain in the dark, just because you don’t care about explanation, doesn’t mean that others don’t or shouldn’t.
I just agree with whoever said, “You might as well tell people it’s king kong’s fart.” That would be awesome, and beautful, and sublime, and all that too.
If the point of the art is to appriciate the beauty of nature (as some have claimed), than wouldn’t it be better if it had a NATURAL explanation? Else, it would be a picture of the beauty of God, or of Shiva, or of anything else. If it’s a picture of nature, it deserves a naturalistic, and correct, description/title.
Also, I would only cease to believe that there is *some* photoshop/darkroom work in this image if someone provided from the negative or the RAW image off the camera. Photoshop does not = fake, is does = altered digitally using a widely available program called Photoshop, which provides photographers and artists with a variety of tools, not all of which are tools for the creation of images.
But I should just get used to the fact that anyone who looks as blogs with no artist information, no scientific facts, no information about the photograph or how it was taken, no information about the geography, history, or location of the volcano–no information PERIOD–are, in general, willfully ignorant.
Including me.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
“The little-understood storms may be sparked when rock fragments, ash, and ice particles in the plume collide to produce static charges—just as ice particles collide to create charge in regular thunderstorms.”
May 25th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Yes, the title should be changed, but anyone that stated it after Matt is just trying to say “oh, hey, I’m smart; everyone look how smart I am!”.
May 26th, 2008 at 3:38 am
pretty damn cool. change the title though.
May 26th, 2008 at 4:28 am
there isn’t actually a thunder storm.
while waiting and hour after taking finals i read a book about the earth.
when volcanoes erupt they can actually produce lightning.
not sure on the technical stuff but i’m just saying it kind of demotes the name of this.
May 26th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I just want to point out that the author of this blog did not take the photo, as some of you seem to be implying.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:03 am
just a note-I understand the science of the volcano and electrical storms–was at St. Helens when she blew–I was almost 6–thought it was pretty amazing up there in the ash cloud—but if you REALLY look at this pic–it looks like you have both—there is indeed lightning in the volcanic cloud–but there is lightning that appears to be some distance away–over what looks to me (a NW native) like rain streaks far away–I think it is both…
May 28th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Beautiful picture! And I appreciate the science lesson, I didn’t know volcanoes could cause lightening storms; you learn something new every day.
There, see how easy it is to appreciate both?
May 28th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Hola, saludos a todos, …la verdad, este es el volcan Chaiten, queda en la decima region de Chile, y estos “rayos”, por ciencia cierta corresponden a electricidad generada por la electricidad estática q se produce al hacer erupción un volcan, por eso este efecto de tormenta eléctrica.
Saludos y fuerza a las personas de la X Region de Chile.
June 1st, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I saw a lot of lightning when Mt. St. Helens erupted, also. I was in the red zone, and it was amazing! It’s nice to hear the science behind it. Thanks!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:15 am
title. didn’t even see a title once the photo was on screen. if i’d been there to take that shot the last thing on my mind would be a title. more of a thank you and lots of thought. right place right time mate.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Wow, this is how I imagine the apocolypse. Is it wrong that I want one now?
June 14th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Well it would appear that the term ignorant has been tossed around a lot in this post, but it does appear to be a storm in the background and where the ash plume and cloud meet is the most spectacular part of the photo.
But I am not a geologist or a meteorologists so I could only begin to just guess at assumptions as to what that could be. Is Mr. Brown correct in his point of changing the name, I could not tell you I am not educated in the required fields. This does not make me ignorant tho because I just simply know that I do not know, but I do know that all things are possible when looking at the beautiful destruction that is nature.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
this is nearly as entertaining as science Vs religion which i’m surprised hasn’t really come into it all yet. No one claiming its god’s beautiful work???
Anyway i’m glad i read matt’s explanation as i wouldn’t have known how it occurs. I appreciate both sides. the picture is gorgeous but its is truly also an magnificent display of nature one which i would like to understand. that’s why we have the likes of artiest, galleries, historians, scientists, the discovery channel etc. we don’t just have one!
however, would this debate have ever happened if the photographer/poster titled it “BA-BOOM” or something to that effect???
July 4th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Has anyone stopped to consider the description of God’s meeting with Moses in the Old Testament?
A pillar of cloud with lightnings all about it? A pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night?
Just a thought…
July 10th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Fear not my children it is just an angel passing through this world into another.
July 14th, 2008 at 12:21 am
RE: Comment # 84
I’m with you WTF?
I’m sure some people see the photograph, think “thats awesome” and move on. That’s OK.
When I saw this great photo, my first thought was “what would cause something like this to happen?”. It has been and always will be my nature.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I must have this pic for my desktop background, higher resolution anywhere?
July 15th, 2008 at 5:06 am
I live in Yakima, Washington. In 1980, our first clue that Mt St Helens had erupted was the sound of thunder. The thunder and lightning continued for hours as long as the ash was still falling.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I was in Costa Rica at the hot springs and its incredible. As the volcano rumbles and erupts the springs will pulse hot water! Its so awesome!