Violent volcanoes can be scary; but while they're often predictable, every so often some of them erupt in an unexpected manner. As such, a recent volcano exploded so violently that it caused tornadoes.
Volcanic Tornado Caught on Video
According to Newsweek, a certain volcano in Iceland caused a strange natural phenomenon, tornadoes, when it started spewing out lava amid exploding from its depths. The phenomenon was captured on drone footage, showing how the tornado violently spun close to flowing lava.
Martin Sanchez, a drone photographer, uploaded a video on YouTube on July 24, showing what appeared to be a tornado spinning close to explosive lava coming out of a volcano. Sanchez told Newsweek that he had never seen anything close to the phenomenon in his life.
He also highlighted how he previously was able to capture volcanic eruptions in Iceland, but this was his first time to catch an eruption with a tornado. The volcano started erupting on July 10 and was part of a larger volcano that erupted in the summer of 2022.
As noted by NASA Earth Observatory, the eruption lasted several weeks in August 2022. Before this, the volcano had erupted for months in March 2021.
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Exploding Volcano Activity
The volcano's name is Litli-Hrútur, which when translated, means Little Ram, and was part of Fagradalsfjall, a larger volcano. Before the eruption of the large volcano, it remained inactive for 800 years.
Upon eruption, the Litli-Hrútur started spilling lava and toxic gases from a 2,600-foot fissure. The gases included sulfur dioxide and according to NASA Earth Observatory, since the ease of its eruption, the size of its fissue dropped to around 250 feet long.
Newsweek explains that the tornado most likely built up due to hot lava coming out from the fissure, resulting in air directly above it heating. The hot air then caused air to rise and spin, creating a spiral and resulting in a tornado.
David Smart, a University College London's Hazard Centre tornado and storm researcher, told Live Sciences that the type of tornado seen in the video most likely happened due to the strong heat source located on the ground with an unstable atmosphere near its surface.
Smart suggested that the tornado was most likely due to atmospheric conditions being conducive during that period.
Volcanic Explosions
The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported that the volcanos had caused numerous explosions which they explain to be likely due to methane pockets of lava formed from its flow, passing over vegetation. Upon toppling over vegetation, the lava likely picked up oxygen, resulting in combustion.
A warning was issued regarding the volcano, telling local residents that it could be dangerous and that people should stay away from it. So far, the volcano has shown no signs of its nascent eruptions stopping.
Because of a shift in vent activity, the lava changed directions, spilling to the north and west while sparking moss fires along the way. This also resulted in dry weather being exacerbated.
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