Last week, Europe’s largest and most active volcano released a series of perfectly formed smoke rings into the sky, leaving onlookers mystified and amazed. This rare phenomenon was captured by locals and quickly went viral on social media, attracting the attention of people worldwide.
The volcanic smoke rings, also known as volcanic vortex rings, were spewed from a new crater that opened on Mount Etna’s summit on Tuesday, April 2nd. The rings, which were near-perfect in shape, emerged from the volcano and floated over Sicily, creating an otherworldly show. Maria Liotta, a resident of Bronte, Sicily, captured the incredible images from her home and shared them online, causing them to spread like wildfire.
According to Boris Behncke, a volcanologist at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania, Etna is breaking all previous records with the number of vapor rings it is producing. He explained that no other volcano on Earth produces as many vapor rings as Etna.
This is not the first time Etna has displayed this phenomenon, as it has been documented at the volcano before. However, the current eruption has surpassed all previous ones with its impressive amount of rings, possibly reaching hundreds or even thousands.
The first recorded eruption of Mount Etna was in 1500 B.C., making it one of the oldest known volcanoes in the world. Since then, it has erupted at least 190 times, with the last major eruption occurring in December 2015. The recent activity, however, has been considered relatively minor, and the smoke rings have not posed any threat to nearby communities.
The rare occurrence of smoke rings at Mount Etna is due to a combination of factors. The rings are formed from a rapid release of gas and the circular shape of the vent. The condensed gases, including water vapor, escape the magma and shoot up from the volcano’s vent, creating the halo-like rings. The circular or slightly deformed shape of the vent is also crucial in the formation of these rings, making Mount Etna the perfect spot for this phenomenon to occur.
While the smoke rings may seem like a mysterious and magical sight, they are, in fact, circles of gas. The eruptions that produce them result from small gas bubbles merging and rising through the magma, creating pressurized gas pockets.
When these pockets explode, they push out gas rapidly enough to form the vapor rings. This complex process, combined with the unique conditions at Mount Etna, allows for the creation of these fascinating natural wonders.
The eruption and subsequent release of smoke rings from Mount Etna have fascinated not only locals and volcanologists but also people worldwide.
The widespread sharing of images and videos of the phenomenon on social media platforms has allowed for people to witness and appreciate the rare and surreal display from the comfort of their own homes.
