Volcanic lightning are rare phenomens which are difficult to capture on video. This one from Sakurajima volcano was made by a lot of single frames, each exposed for some seconds and animated via PC to a video sequence. The unique shots were licenced from several TV station all over the world.
Sakurajima facts
Sakurajima means in English Cherry Blossom Island. It is an active stratovolcano and a former island in the Bay of Kagoshima in Kyushu, Japan. The lava flows of the 1914 eruption caused the former island to be connected with the Osumi Peninsula.
The volcanic activity is erupting large amounts of volcanic ash. Earlier eruptions built the white sands highlands in the region.
Sakurajima’s summit has three peaks: Kita-dake (northern peak), Naka-dake (central peak) and Minami-dake (southern peak). A smaller crater on its east side is called Showa. This is the site of most of the current eruptions.
Sakurajima is famouse for its volcanic lightning. (Sources WIKIPEDIA & USGS)