38. The Volcanic Ash Cloud Seen From Space
When Tonga’s underwater volcano erupted in 2022, satellites captured an ash plume punching through the atmosphere. The explosion created a mushroom cloud stretching into the stratosphere.
Shockwaves circled the planet multiple times. From orbit, the plume resembled a nuclear detonation — except entirely natural. The visuals stunned scientists and the public alike, highlighting how submarine eruptions can unleash planet-scale atmospheric effects.
