Gamalama, Halmahera, Indonesia, 31 July 2003

Comments: This relatively brief eruption reached a height of approximately 12 km. The eruption appeared to occur in two phases; the first sent ash clouds eastwards at relatively low levels, and the second, which would have been more difficult to observe from the ground, produced a higher plume that drifted westwards towards Sulawesi. Little ash was detected from the eruption; however a multispectral MODIS image (below) may indicate some sulphur dioxide in the dissipating high level cloud.