Volcanic Lightning

Last week, Japan's Sakurajima volcano erupted in spectacular fashion with fiery lava pouring down the mountain side and lightning flashing above.

This was enough to prompt me to google volcanic lightning which led to my finding some pretty amazing images.

Puyehue-Cordon Volcano in Chile (2011)
Photo: Carlos Gutierrez

Mount Merapi, Indonesia (2010)
Jeffe Castan

Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, Iceland (2010)
Photo: Sigurdur Hrafn Stefnisson

Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, Iceland (2010)
Photo: Marco Fulle

Mt. Etna, Italy 2015
Photo: Marco Restivo/Demotix/Corbis

Sakurajima, Japan (2013)
Photo: Martin Rietze

Here's a pretty good explanation as to what causes volcanic lightning on EarthSky.com