Follow this link to view pictures of a volcano erupting on a remote Russian island. The pictures show the volcano’s plume clear a path through the clouds.
The round hole in the clouds is thought to have been caused by the shockwave of the initial explosion. At the centre lies the billowing mushroom tower of grey and brown ash. For volcano experts, the most exciting part of the image is the layer of smooth white cloud that caps the plume – a little like a layer of snow on a mushroom. This cap of condensed air is created from the rapid rising and then cooling of the air directly above the ash column. When moist, warm air rises quickly it creates a cloud.
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If memory serves, Mount Pinatubo put more pollutants in the in the atmosphere than the entire industrial revolution. Compared to what the volcanos do, whatever mankind does mankind causes to be emitted is truely insignificant.
This eruption is great news! The carbon tax the Russians will have to pay should be enough to fund health care for all Americans.
L3
The sheer hubris of pathetic little people like the Iranian Mullahs who think that the Lord of all creation will change the rules because of their petty obeisance to a corpse in a well or Al Gore and company reducing the music of physics to a scheme to fund a confidence game or welfare fraud slush funds pales when confronted with the power of reality. One of the most haunting images in LOTR was of the great inescapable wave climbing over Numenor. We are but insignificant specks in the greater balance of the Universe but there is a spark of something greater in us.
The earth could crack and swallow Qom at any time.
Awesome pictures.
A color 3D construction from two images is available at this URL
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0906/ISS020-E-9050_52ana_public.jpg
put on your red-blue glasses and enjoy
Absolutely amazing.
“Nature’s A-Bomb”
During the golden age of Hollywood a publicity flack lived to attach such a label to a girl from Brooklyn or Tulsa.
I have great respect for this blog so I wanted to share another view of this impressive event – from the seablogger.
astounding shots! We don’t hear enough and the impact of volcanic activity on our little lives eg “the year without a summer”, 1816, following the eruption of Tamboro in 1815.
I saw a Wile-E Coyote in NASA’s photos showing “the plume drifting through the atmosphere in the hours and days after the eruption”.
Does that speak volumes about my cartoon-like or child-like minds?
/Master Yoda: “How embarrassing.”
Lifeofthemind-
The great paradox is related to your speck of dust comment.
The paradox:
We are merest speck of cosmic dust compared to God, yet everything we do is of cosmic significance.
It is the great paradox, because it sums up so many within its bounds. Holding both halves of the paradox, we recognize both our infinite worth and utter insignificance at the same time.
We then prepare to follow Him in total humility, knowing our best is filthy rags. Yet knowing congruent, each encounter with a stranger may be divine appointment where we reflect infinite joy.
Now if i can only reflect this in my posts.
Interesting, I am reminded of the recent speculations that Betelgeuse (already thought to be on its last legs) may go supernova within a human lifetime, and maybe tomorrow.
Perhaps, if this thing does blow in the greatest catastrophe since the Beginning, it will give some of the world’s lunatics pause. It’s not as if it will be possible to ignore such an event – for a few months it will be brighter than the Moon.
Fletcher Christian: Not tomorrow. I think its already happened. Betelgeuse is 650 LtYrs off. Lets figure out how to collect a bet.
Speaking of Nature’s A-Bomb, there is evidence that natural nuclear reactions can occur, according to studies of uranium deposits in Gabon:
http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/factsheets/doeymp0010.shtml
– The Climate Bill in Climate Context –
The bottom line remains, as the International Energy Agency warned in its 2008 World Energy Outlook,
that 97 percent of projected growth in emissions of carbon dioxide from energy use through 2030 (without aggressive action) will come in developing countries,
with three-fourths of that growth in China, India and the Middle East.
—
“Last night, those people being asked to vote were given a 1,200-and-some-odd-page document that they have never seen before. This is ‘hurry up and do it,’ ” Donohue said. “Bob Dole used to say to members of the Senate, ‘Let’s all hurry up and vote on this before anybody has a chance to read it.’ ”
Interesting point, Herb. Of course, when referring to astronomical events one also has to mentally add “from our point of view” to statements about timing. I believe that’s quite a lot of what Relativity is about.
Well, that depends on how you look at it.
I believe that’s quite a lot of what Relativity is about.
“Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT’S relativity.”
My guess is that the hole in the cloud deck is due to the heat of the plume. I watched an F-4E in full afterburner (reheat) and a near vertical climb “burn” a hole in a cloud deck exactly like that.
Money is relative. The more money you have the more relatives show up.