Recently, Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, and among the world’s most active and iconic volcanoes, was recorded sending up almost perfect rings of smoke into the air.
- The rings are a rare phenomenon that scientists refer to as volcanic vortex rings.
- These rings are produced roughly in the same way as the smoke rings that some cigarette smokers are able to blow out of their mouths.
Volcanic vortex rings
Vortex rings are generated when gas, predominantly water vapour, is released rapidly through a vent in the crater.
In more recent times, volcanic vortex rings have been observed at volcanoes such as Redoubt in Alaska, Tungurahua in Ecuador, Pacaya in Guatemala, Eyjafjallajökull and Hekla in Iceland, Stromboli in Italy, Aso and Sakurajima in Japan, Yasur in Vanuatu, Whakaari in New Zealand, and Momotombo in Nicaragua.
Mount Etna
- Mount Etna is an active volcano on the east coast of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
- Etna’s peak is the highest in Italy south of the Alps, and it is Europe’s largest and one of the most active volcanoes.
- Etna is in almost constant activity, and has seen, since the year 1600, at least 60 flank eruptions and many more summit eruptions.
- Etna has been a World Heritage Site since 2013.
- The volcano’s eruptive history can be traced back 500,000 years. At least 2,700 years of this activity has been documented.
