Image source: NOAA-14, 28 September 2000, multi-channel

Comments: Like most other eruptive clouds, the volcanic ash plume from this eruption was distinctly non-uniform. Close analysis of the above image shows two distinct clouds, a middle-level cloud extending out to the west-northwest, and a high level cloud, rapidly growing at this stage and signalling a more intense phase of the eruption. The visible animation below, beginning two hours after the above image, shows the spread of this higher level ash; the middle level ash can be seen very faintly extending west-northwestwards to the edge of the image.

The TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) products at the bottom of the page show both SO2 and aerosols west of the volcano during the eruption. However, the two are not quite co-located, suggesting some separation during the dispersive process.

Image source: GMS visible, 28/29 September 2000

Image source: collage from TOMS Aerosol & SO2 products, courtesy of NOAA/NASA

(Related page: Ulawun, April 2001)