Note: for high bandwidth users, we also have a 64-frame java loop of the eruptions.

Comments: This infamous eruption has been heavily documented, most notably in the book 'Fire & Mud', which is available online as well as in the printed form. These infrared (above) and visible spectrum (below) animations show the few hours before and after the largest eruption of Mt Pinatubo on June 15, 1991.  A series of closely spaced 'surge-producing eruptions' occurred in the hours before the climactic eruption, and can be seen as a series of ash clouds appearing over the volcano and quickly moving westwards, mixing with the already heavy cloud associated with  Typhoon Yunya.  These eruptions reached a maximum height of about 12 km. The climactic eruption, which can be seen as the enormous, circular cloud, reached a height of about 34 km in its centre.

Image Source: GMS Infrared & Visible
Date: 14/15 June, 1991

A number of TOMS images on this eruption are available from the TOMS Volcanic Image Archive. The image below shows the Sulphur Dioxide cloud drifting across the South China Sea after the eruption.

Image Source: TOMS Volcanic Image Archive.