NASA satellite imagery captures Chilean volcanic ash plume over Australia and New Zealand

As a huge ash plume from the Puyehue volcano in southern Chile continues to cause travel chaos in many countries, NASA have captured satellite imagery of the ash cloud as it travels above Australia and New Zealand – over half a world away.

Credit: NASA MODIS Rapid Response

Credit: NASA MODIS Rapid Response

The images which were captured yesterday, June 13, show a concentrated plume of ash that has travelled from Chile, now visible half-way across the world over Australia and New Zealand.

The ash cloud exists at an altitude of between 20,000 and 35,000 feet, the optimum cruising level for many airplanes. This altitude has also enabled the plume to travel so far in such a short space of time.