
Sakurajima - active Showa crater while silent glowing |

small strombolian eruption at full moon
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small eruption
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small eruption |

beginning of a non symmetric, big eruption |

rising ash cloud with strong lightning |

lightning detail |

lightning phase lasts several seconds |

another strong eruption follows
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lava bombs hitting the flank
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strombolian ejecta filling the whole flank
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ash covered cars in the villages around Sakurajima |

typical village with volcano behind |

sunset colors |

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beginning of strong eruption, lava bombs bursting on inner flank |
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huge lava bombs hitting ground |

ash cloud follows |

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another following eruption
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lava bombs hitting into the ground |

glowing material rolling down the flanks |

completely silent phase, warming up
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first phase of eruption, shock wave hits crater rim |

rim material blown up by shock wave |

lava bombs drawing condensation trails |

lava bombs drawing condensation trails |

big eruption with small pyroclastic flow to lower right |

big eruption with small pyroclastic flow to lower right |

fallout of ash streamers |
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often a strong eruption is followed by a second one
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Sakurajima semi island seen from E |

Sakurajima semi island seen from E |

distant view to the Kirishima volcano range |
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Ferry to Kagoishima |

eruption with observers and bay bridge giving scale |

locals relaxing at a spa |

steaming crater with halo above |

near to sunset |

silent steaming phase |

ash venting for countless hours |

ash cloud shape under low wind conditions
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after many silent hours a sudden strong eruption generates excessive lightning - what a impressive experience |

lightning freezes falling and impacting lava bombs |

the rising ash cloud generates further lightning
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full moon above
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even after 20 seconds lightning is very strong
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detail shows different colors of lightning bolts |

rising ash cloud hides the moon |

morning light |

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sum of multiple exposures |

...and 21:30h |

strombolian phase |
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steam gives contrast to ash cloud |

first phase of a strong eruption |
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following eruption |
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small explosion in morning light |

high speed eruption with shock wave causing condensation on crater rim |
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steaming away while moon is setting |
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beginning a impressive series of big eruptions |
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interaction with weather clouds |

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packing and leaving our observation site |
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Sakurajima eruption video - strong shockwaves |