Did You Know Volcanoes Can Blow Smoke Rings?
I watched one of those overly dramatic “weird weather” type programs recently, and they mentioned volcanoes producing smoke rings. Initially, I was skeptical because it sounded too brilliant to be part of the real world.
But, it’s not. So, I’ve collated some evidence.
These smoke rings, or “vortex rings” are quite a rare phenomenon, and only some volcanoes do it some of the time, including these volcanoes:
- Mount Etna, Sicily
- Stromboli, Italy
- Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
- Hekla, Iceland
- Tungurahua, Ecuador
- Pacaya, Guatemala
- Mount Redoubt, Alaska
- Mount Aso, Japan
- Whakaari , New Zealand
- Gunung Slamet, Java
- Momotombo, Nicaragua
Apparently, these rings aren’t actually smoke. Rather, they’re condensed gases, like water vapour.
According to a paper on this phenomenon, “the formation of volcanic vortex rings requires a combination of fast gas release from gas bubbles (slugs) at the top of the magma conduit and regularity in the shape of the emitting vent.”
In other words, gas has to be travelling swiftly, and the hole at the top needs to be fairly circular with walls of an even height.
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