[augmented]

Why does a volcanic eruption sometimes create lightning? The Sakurajima volcano in southern Japan was caught erupting in early January. Magma bubbles so hot they glow shoot away as liquid rock bursts through the Earth's surface from below. Why lightning occurs even in common thunderstorms remains a topic of research, and the cause of volcanic lightning is even less clear. Surely, lightning bolts help quench areas of opposite but separated electric charges. One hypothesis holds that catapulting magma bubbles or volcanic ash are themselves electrically charged, and by their motion create these separated areas. Other volcanic lightning episodes may be facilitated by charge-inducing collisions in volcanic dust. Lightning is usually occurring somewhere on Earth, typically over 40 times each second.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130311.html

[Illusion]

More pics of Japan's recent volcano eruption.

[kellyhound]

fantastic pictures

[zombie-rot420]

This is the most metal thing I've ever seen.

[güttsfükk]

love these type of images

[mcpronoun]

[Faline]

Awesome

[Sharon]

Stunning images

[Darkest Angel]