One of the largest recorded eruptions in the Kuril Islands took place 11-16 June from Sarychev Peak. This NASA Space Shuttle view on 12 June shows an eruption plume that rose to 16-21 km altitude; pyroclastic flows reached the sea and extended the shoreline in some areas. The main explosive phase ended on 16 June, but weak explosions producing ash plumes continued prior to arrival of a field team on 26-28 July, when no eruptive activity was observed.

NASA International Space Station image ISS020-E-9048, 2009 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).

This image is made available as a Public Domain Work, but proper attribution is appreciated.

Galleries: Ash Plumes and Ashfall | Pyroclastic Flows | Explosive Eruptions

Keywords: eruption | explosive eruption | ash plume | ash | plume | pyroclastic flow | island volcano | pyroclastic density current (PDC)

Sarychev Peak