Breathtaking video shows volcanic lightning at Japan's Sakurajima volcano

The visuals are breathtaking: a volcanic eruption from Japan's Sakurajima volcano generated a massive ash cloud accompanied by volcanic lightning, captured in a remarkable time-lapse video.

Volcanic lightning, a common phenomenon during eruptions, was notably intense in this instance. Typically, these electrical discharges occur within the ash plume, but it's rare for them to extend beyond it. A similar event was recorded in March 2023 at Guatemala's Fuego volcano.

The phenomenon arises from the friction among the fine ash and dust particles ejected at high pressure from the volcano's crater during an eruption. This friction electrifies the particles, leading to the spectacular lightning discharges. While not every eruption produces lightning, the likelihood and intensity of these electrical discharges increase with the eruption's strength and explosiveness.

This was evident during the colossal eruption of the Tonga volcano on January 15, 2022, when hundreds of thousands of lightning strikes were detected in ash clouds soaring up to 36 miles high, marking it as one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recent history.

Sakurajima, a stratovolcano, lies in the southernmost part of Japan, approximately 5 miles from Kagoshima city. It ranks among the planet's most active volcanoes, with frequent eruptions ranging from minor to significant events each year. Its activity is attributed to its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active area in the world, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are exceedingly common.

Though Sakurajima's eruptions typically result in ashfall, causing more of a nuisance than danger, the 1914 eruption was an exception, leading to fatalities. However, it's worth noting that these casualties were a result of the severe earthquake preceding the eruption, after which the local population was evacuated before the eruption's climax.