These are incredible and, beyond capturing the beauty and force of this event in nature, they show what local, rural people and their animals are dealing with.  That's a story I haven't heard much about.

I wondered about that myself.  From Smithsonian.com :

...The scientists now believe that volcanoes can produce two kinds of lightning during an eruption. The first type, which has been understood for some time, occurs in the volcano's smoke plume a few minutes after the eruption ends. In this case, highly energized hot air and gases clash with the cool atmosphere, creating the sort of "organized," branched lightning found in a thunderstorm, says Thomas.

The second kind of lightning, which the authors called "a newly identified explosive phase," came as a surprise, says Thomas. As magma, ash and rocks spewed from Augustine carrying great electrical charge, they created continuous, chaotic sparks near the mouth of the volcano.

"There's some mechanism in there that's making it come out charged," says Thomas, who hopes the new observations will lead to a better understanding of both kinds of volcanic lightning.

Not all volcanic eruptions produce lightning, says McNutt, but the new equipment might be used to track the ones that do-particularly those in remote regions.

Why does the volcano make lightning?

Why does the volcano make lightning?

What's also rather worrying is there are absolutely no health warning on the news about this. It's all about those deserted and how much money is being lost. Mrs Hobie mentioned earlier that there is some of this fine rock on the ground in the south west. If it's on the ground it must be in my lungs. I'm actually quite sick right now with what feels like man flu but my throat is extremely sore. Ok, this could be a coincidence but some advice would be helpful but there's none at all. What goes up must come down so to speak.

Could be tonsillitus although asthma sufferers are being recommended to stay indoors if dust is settling.

wot?

What's also rather worrying is there are absolutely no health warning on the news about this. It's all about those deserted and how much money is being lost. Mrs Hobie mentioned earlier that there is some of this fine rock on the ground in the south west. If it's on the ground it must be in my lungs. I'm actually quite sick right now with what feels like man flu but my throat is extremely sore. Ok, this could be a coincidence but some advice would be helpful but there's none at all. What goes up must come down so to speak.

wot?

 I'm actually quite sick right now with what feels like man flu but my throat is extremely sore. Ok, this could be a coincidence but some advice would be helpful but there's none at all. What goes up must come down so to speak.

I've been thinking about what would happen if this ash cloud was over North America.  At least Europe has a decent rail system and though it is really crowded right now at least there is an alternative to get around.

If this happened in the US we'd be SOL.  Travel of any distance in this country is primarily by air.  We essentially have no passenger rail system. 

Guess Greyhound would get very busy.

Well... after Dr. Seth Brundle finishes perfecting the teleporter, then travel will be totally updated.

hi! 

I hope market economies are as flexible and resilient as we think they are. Times like this make me wonder though how dependent we have become on a few key supplies to keep the whole thing going. This was really a minor event. As an eruption it is interesting but it is also the kind of thing you can expect to happen somewhere in the world two to three times every decade. What's going to happen if we got struck with a truly large eruption?