The sheer destructive force alone makes volcanic eruptions both a terrifying and wondrous thing to behold. And this gallery allows you to appreciate such sights from probably the best vantage point — from space.
© Flickr / NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterAlaska’s Pavlof Volcano.
Alaska’s Pavlof Volcano.
© Flickr / NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center Cleveland Volcano, Aleutian Islands, Alaska.
Cleveland Volcano, Aleutian Islands, Alaska.
© Flickr / NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterManam Volcano, Papua New Guinea.
Manam Volcano, Papua New Guinea.
© Flickr / NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterAsh plume rises over the Grímsvötn Volcano in Iceland.
Ash plume rises over the Grímsvötn Volcano in Iceland.
© Flickr / NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterAsh plume from Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka.
Ash plume from Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka.
© Flickr / NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterDetailed View of erupting Nabro volcano in Eritrea.
Detailed View of erupting Nabro volcano in Eritrea.
© Flickr / NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterSarychev Volcano as seen from space.
Sarychev Volcano as seen from space.
© Flickr / NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterVolcanic plume is blowing east over Argentina to Atlantic Ocean.
Volcanic plume is blowing east over Argentina to Atlantic Ocean.
© Flickr / NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterEruption of Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in Iceland.
Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in Iceland.
© Flickr / Stuart RankinThe Holuhraun lava field in Iceland.
The Holuhraun lava field in Iceland.
© Flickr / NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterExplosive eruption at the Paluweh volcano in Indonesia.
Explosive eruption at the Paluweh volcano in Indonesia.
© Flickr / NASA JohnsonThe view from orbit of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka - the highest active volcano of Eurasia.
The view from orbit of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka - the highest active volcano of Eurasia.