Batu Tara, Indonesia, spectacular photo

Batu Tara, August 18, 2001
Photo by Thorsten Bockel-http://www.tboeckel.de

VPOW featured this beautiful image this week. I was fascinated by the features at the lower left and center bottom--they look like fireworks on July 4, but come, instead, from the impact of volcanic bombs on the slopes near the vent.

Batu Tara is a small stratovolcano that forms an isolated island in the Flores Sea. Normally covered with vegetation, its first historical eruption occurred from 1847-1852, and the current eruption cycle, starting in 2006, is only the second. A pilot reported an ash cloud that year, but there was no other confirmation.  In 2007, MODIS infrared satellite data showed thermal anomalies.  A continuous low-level plume developed on March 15, 2007, and residents on an island about 50 km south reported a 500-1500 m plume. Lava flows were observed in April of that year, and ash plumes were fairly continuous. Here is the Smithsonian compilation of monthly reports on the activity.