Imagine the intensity of a volcanic eruption like the one in Iceland and how visually amazing it must be, now imagine a violent thunderstorm at the top.

Dirty Lightning, or Volcanic Lightning is created when ash and rock particulates shoot upwards in the plume of a volcanic eruption, causing static electricity. Eventually, the static becomes intense enough to generate a charge and trigger a full blown bold of lightning.

Eyjafjallajokull Volcanic Dirty Lightning

Chaiten Volcano Dirty Lightning