Volcanic lightning at Sakurajima volcano during night eruption, Japan
During a nighttime eruption on Thursday, January 30, 2025, the Sakurajima volcano produced an impressive volcanic lightning show, a rare but well-documented phenomenon associated with explosive eruptions.
#Sakurajima Volcano #Kagoshima Japan, 30.01.2025, 20:14 local time, 4x/16x speed
— Rita Bauer (@wischweg) January 30, 2025
source: zaiho , https://t.co/czqYVZo5Ou pic.twitter.com/roHfGjphYV
Volcanic lightning occurs when charged particles within the eruptive plume interact, generating electrical discharges similar to those in thunderstorms.
Ash, rock fragments, and volcanic gases ejected during an eruption create a highly turbulent environment where intense friction leads to static charge separation. This charge buildup can result in visible lightning strikes, particularly in ash-rich eruptions. The presence of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and fine volcanic ash enhances conductivity, increasing the likelihood of electrical discharges.
Persistent summit incandescence was visible during the night via webcams according to Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) observations from January 20 to 27. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions reached extremely high levels on January 20, averaging 3 200 tons per day.
Explosive activity was recorded multiple times including eruptions at 12:20 UTC on January 21, 17:09 and 22:46 UTC on January 22, 02:43 UTC on January 23, and 16:26 UTC on January 25.
The eruptions generated ash plumes rising between 800 m (2 625 feet) and 2 500 m (8 200 feet) above the summit rim, with the plumes dispersing east, southeast, south, and southwest. Some explosions ejected large volcanic blocks up to 1 300 m (4 265 feet) from the summit rim.
The Alert Level for Sakurajima remains at Level 3 on Japan’s five-tier scale, restricting access within a 1 km (0.62 miles) radius of the summit because of ongoing explosive activity.
JMA has warned residents and authorities to remain cautious of potential pyroclastic flows, ballistic projectiles, and further ashfall in surrounding areas.
Approximately 5 000 people live within a 5 km (3.1 miles) radius of the volcano, 114 00 within 10 km (6.2 miles), and over 900 000 within 30 km (18.6 miles).
Sakurajima, a stratovolcano within the Aira Caldera, is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. The Aira Caldera, located in the northern part of Kagoshima Bay, formed approximately 22 000 years ago following a massive eruption that produced the Ito pyroclastic flow.
Sakurajima itself began forming around 13 000 years ago and was initially an island before a major eruption in 1914 connected it to the Osumi Peninsula.
The volcano has maintained frequent eruptive activity since the 8th century, with historical eruptions depositing ash in the city of Kagoshima which lies just 8 km (5 miles) across the bay. The largest known eruption of the volcano occurred between 1471 and 1476, reaching an estimated Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 5.
It’s been erupting consistently since March 2017, with explosive activity recorded at Minamidake Summit.
References:
1 Aira – GVP – Accessed on January 31, 2025
Featured image: Volcanic lightning during an eruption at Sakurajima volcano on January 30, 2025. Credit: 財宝公式チャンネル, Rita Bauer
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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