They are a rare and fascinating phenomenon observed in active volcanoes like Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy. These rings are generated by the combination of rapid gas release and the specific shape of the volcanic vent.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Formation: The formation of volcanic vortex rings is believed to be the result of a combination of fast gas release at the top of the magma conduit and regularity in the shape of the emitting vent. They are thought to form when condensed water vapour from the volcano hits cold air.
Mount Etna’s Phenomenon: Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world, has been observed blowing spectacular ‘smoke rings’ into the sky. According to Boris Behncke, a volcanologist at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania, “no volcano on Earth produces as many vapour rings (‘volcanic vortex rings’) as Etna”.
Recent Activity: In the recent activity that started on 2nd April 2024, a small mouth opened on the north-eastern rim of the South-East Crater of Mount Etna, producing puffs of glowing gas. By the next morning, these puffs were producing an impressive amount of steam rings, and this activity has been going on ever since, having already emitted hundreds if not thousands of these pretty rings.
It’s important to note that while the physical conditions under which volcanic vortex rings form are still not entirely known, scientists continue to study these phenomena to gain a better understanding of their formation and implications. There were no reports of particular disruptions in the surrounding villages or at Catania airport, which often closes in the case of major eruptions.
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