Iceland’s newest volcano continues to put on a spectacular display, with a ‘tornado’ coming out of its crater.
New images show the swirling column of air emanating from the Litli-Hrútur, or ‘Little Ram’ volcano, which formed last month on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula.
The impressive spectacle is the result of the heat from the lava warming the air above it, making the air less dense and causing it to rise.
Under the right wind conditions, this column of hot air begins to spin like a super-fast corkscrew and appears as a ‘tornado’.
Litli-Hrútur has already been launching “splash bombs” of molten lava into the air and landing well beyond the crater rims.
The new images show the long swirling mist emanating from the Litli-Hrútur, or ‘Little Ram’, volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland.
David Smart, a storm researcher at University College London, said the term ‘tornado’ can be used in this case, although it is probably different from the traditional definition of a tornado.
The American Meteorological Society defines a tornado as a rapidly rotating column of air that extends vertically from the Earth’s surface to the base of a cumulus cloud.
This ‘tornado’ appears to be connected to an entirely different cloud: the ash cloud emitted by the volcano (known as the ‘eruption column’).
“It is not clear from the video if the vortex is in fact from the eruption column cloud,” Smart told MailOnline.
“I think it was likely a near-surface atmospheric instability that increased updraft in the lower cloud layer and below the eruption cloud.
“This effect “stretches” the vorticity (“spin” of air packets) near the ground and leads to a tall, compact vortex.
Litli-Hrútur was formed when a meter eruption opened a 1.7-mile fissure in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, which is southwest of the capital Reykjavík and close to the country’s main international airport, Keflavik.
The volcano, which is located on Mount Fagradalsfjall, erupted on Monday after increased seismic activity in the area. It is located 20 miles from Keflavik airport.
The impressive tornado or ‘dust devil’ is the result of heat from lava heating the air above it, making the air less dense and causing it to rise.
Under the cascading winds of Iceland, this column of hot air rotates like a corkscrew to produce the ‘tornado’
Litli-Hrútur has already been launching “splash bombs” of molten lava into the air and landing well beyond the crater rims.
This Underground rash it was preceded by a ‘seismic swarm’ of 7,000 earthquakes in the region, the largest of which was a magnitude 4.8 quake, according to the Icelandic Met Office.
Usually, there are earthquakes that lead to a volcanic eruption, caused by the movement of magma and other fluids within the volcano.
According to the Icelandic Met Office, pockets of methane within the lava are also exploding, causing loud explosions audible to locals.
“When lava flows over an area with vegetation, methane gas can be produced when the vegetation does not burn completely,” he said in a statement. facebook post.
The gas then collects in voids and cavities in the lava.
“It mixes with oxygen, and when an ember or flame from the fire breaks into it, an explosion occurs.”
The scientists said the temperature of the lava seeping out of the crater was about 2,192 °F (1,200 °C).
Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir, an associate professor of geography at the University of Iceland, said there was some “concern” because two people had been in the area just over an hour before the crater collapsed.
“There is no way they would have had time to escape and survive if they had been there an hour later as the collapse happened so quickly,” he told MailOnline.
Litli-Hrútur is part of the Fagradalsfjall volcanic area, located in an uninhabited part of the Reykjanes peninsula
“Of course, they shouldn’t have been there as the area so close to the crater is closed and extremely dangerous.”
Icelandic authorities have warned onlookers to stay away from an erupting volcano spewing noxious lava and gases.
The Icelandic Met Office has said that locals should “be careful of this hazard and not get too close to the edge of the lava.”
Still, tourists and spectators flock to the site, eager to witness the natural spectacle up close.
A british youtuber headed to the active volcano to cook a store-bought chicken currybut activity on the site could be on the decline.
Last week, Litli-Hrútur produced between 30 and 50 percent less lava than the previous week. RUV reports.
This indicates that the end of the eruption could be only a week or two away, according to Þorvaldur Þórðarson, a professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland.
“Based on how the changes have been in the last week, it would be a week or two until the end of the eruption, maybe it could take a little longer.”
Last week, the European Space Agency (ESA) released a satellite image of the erupting volcano, which appears as an orange spot on the Reykjanes Peninsula followed by a plume of smoke.
The European Space Agency has released a satellite image of the erupting volcano, which appears as an orange spot on the Reykjanes Peninsula followed by a plume of smoke.
This aerial photo taken on July 10 shows smoke billowing from flowing lava during a volcanic eruption.
Icelandic authorities have warned onlookers to stay away from an erupting volcano spewing noxious lava and gases.
Satellites orbiting above continually capture the molten lava and plume of smoke billowing from “Little Ram.”
“Satellite technologies now make it possible to monitor volcanic activity even in the most isolated corners of the world,” the ESA said.
“The satellites carry different instruments that provide a lot of complementary information to better understand volcanic eruptions.”
Litli-Hrútur is part of the Fagradalsfjall volcanic area which, after some 800 years of silence, came to life in March 2021 with an eruption in the Geldingadalur valley followed by a smaller eruption in the nearby Meradalur valley in August 2022.
