Ash Clouds Over La Palma, Canary Islands
January 26, 2022
Photographer: Jose Fernandez Arozena
Summary Authors: Jose Fernandez Arozena; Cadan Cummings
These two photos show ash clouds coming from the volcano on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands taken last year on October 12 (left) and November 2 (right). The ash clouds are composed of sand and small rock fragments called lapilli. Southwest winds blew the ash clouds nearer to the town causing the “rain” of ash and sand. In such conditions, the island’s airport is closed due to the poor conditions. The typical winds of the Canary Islands should disperse the ash, however, weak trade winds on the surface at the time of these photos were unable to "sweep" the ash and gases away from the coast.