Volcanic eruptions are breathtaking—but with lightning, they become nature’s most electrifying spectacle! When a volcano erupts, it creates a plume, which is a mixture of hot volcanic ash, gas, and water vapour that is tightly packed together. As it ascends, tiny particles gain friction, which helps contribute to these lightning strikes. #EarthCapture at Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala by Danielle Herrera 📸 #volcano #lightning #naturephotography #science | BBC Earth

Volcanic lightning occurs when an eruption injects millions of ash particles into the sky, each one colliding, fracturing, and building electrical charge through friction. As the plume rises, the temperature difference between molten rock, ice crystals, and ash creates an extreme charge imbalance. When the electrical field becomes strong enough, it discharges in violent lightning bursts that branch through the cloud. | AstroNature