A Sicilian volcano is blowing smoke rings in the sky. What are volcanic vortex rings?

• Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, and among the world’s most active and iconic volcanoes, has been sending up almost perfect rings of smoke into the air.
• The rings are a rare phenomenon that scientists refer to as volcanic vortex rings, which are produced roughly in the same way as the smoke rings that some cigarette smokers are able to blow out.

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 has been a World Heritage Site since 2013, and according to UNESCO, the volcano’s eruptive history can be traced back 500,000 years. At least 2,700 years of this activity has been documented.

Volcanic Vortex Rings:

• Vortex rings are generated when gas, predominantly water vapour, is released rapidly through a vent in the crater.
• The vent that has opened up in Etna’s crater is almost perfectly circular
• However 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.

Prelims Takeaways:

• Mt Etna
• Volcanic vortex rings