Many people in the United States and Europe are enjoying gorgeous sunsets lately, filled with lavender, deep purple and ripples of white. This is thanks to the eruption more than two weeks ago of Russia's Sarychev Peak volcano.

This photo, taken by Liem Bahneman of Kirkland, Washington on June 28, shows the
characteristic purple sunsets created after a volcano spews gas and ash into the atmosphere.
Credit: Liem Bahneman. Photo courtesy of Live Science


postcards from russia
Annette Marie Hyder

before the black caviar of a full night sky
and while the sun is being downed
like a right good shot of vodka
the city sucks in its breath
at the picture postcard beauty
of a violet sky that darkens to purple
with ripples of ice cube white
sent from russia, via volcanic explosion
tender vista from harsh might

the city blows its industrial smokestack waste
like cigarette smoke through pursed lips
and has another shot
before the sun is totally gone
to nest in another matryoshka day


Volcano eruption creates spectacular sunsets

Live Science reports on the phenomenon: 

The volcano blew its top June 12, generating a remarkable shock wave in the atmosphere seen in a photo taken by astronauts. It also hurled massive plumes of sulfur dioxide into the air, and that material has been circling the globe.

The eruption of the Sarychev Peak volcano has prompted beautiful sunsets. Deep purple hues and ripples of white characterize the spectacular views the past few evenings.

The phenomenon occurs when the ash and fine particles sprayed high into the atmosphere by the volcano scatter light. The sulfur dioxide ejected by Sarychev Peak interacts with the atmosphere to form tiny particles called sulfate aerosols.

Light scattering happens all the time. It's why the sky is blue and sunsets often red or orange.Particles in the atmosphere scatter short-wavelength blue light more effectively, to make the sky appear blue. When the sun sets, its rays have more atmosphere to travel though to reach our eyes, so more of the long-wavelength red light makes the journey.

Lately, the volcanic aerosols are combining with the normal scattering particles to create more obstacles for light to pass through,increasing the coloring effect.

Links of interest:

NASA photos of 'hole in the cloud' view of Sarychev peak eruption
Volcano World
Learner.org