Grimsvotn May 2011 eruption seen by the US GOES-13 satellite

The start of the Grimsvotn May 2011 eruption as seen by the US GOES-13 satellite. The volcanic plume was apparent on the very edge of GOES-east imagery, which can be seen in the animation of visible channel images.  The oblique viewing angle from this satellite helped to emphasise the large vertical extent of the erupted plume.  Credits: Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies.