Updated

Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupted continuously for more than 24 hours in early September, sending ash up to 50,000 feet into the atmosphere. The eruption forced the closure of eight airports, disrupted nearly 3,000 flights, and degraded air quality as far away as Jakarta. NASA satellites captured the dramatic ash plume spreading across the region, illustrating the wide-reaching disruption a single volcanic event can cause to aviation and air quality.