Vortex rings rise from Italy's Mount Etna volcano
April 8, 2024 8:18 PM Subscribe
Vortex rings rise from Italy's Mount Etna volcano.
Mount Etna has released volcanic vortex rings, a rare phenomenon caused by a constant release of vapours and gases.
Italy's Mount Etna volcano has released volcanic vortex rings, a rare phenomenon caused by a constant release of vapours and gases.
Australian National University volcanologist Ana Casas Ramos said the rings, which have been rising since Wednesday, were often wrongly described as smoke.
"It is condensed water vapour," she said.
"On its own it is colourless but once it reaches the condensation level then it becomes whitish — and that's what we are seeing.
"The reason why you have this water vapour coming up and condensing so quickly and then forming these rings is because of the temperature difference.
"The water vapour is coming out very hot and then once it reaches shallow levels, like atmospheric levels, it then encounters cold air and that's when you get this condensation."
Italy's Mount Etna volcano has released volcanic vortex rings, a rare phenomenon caused by a constant release of vapours and gases.
Australian National University volcanologist Ana Casas Ramos said the rings, which have been rising since Wednesday, were often wrongly described as smoke.
"It is condensed water vapour," she said.
"On its own it is colourless but once it reaches the condensation level then it becomes whitish — and that's what we are seeing.
"The reason why you have this water vapour coming up and condensing so quickly and then forming these rings is because of the temperature difference.
"The water vapour is coming out very hot and then once it reaches shallow levels, like atmospheric levels, it then encounters cold air and that's when you get this condensation."
Pshh - whatta pretentious showoff!
(actually that's pretty neat)
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:16 PM on April 8
(actually that's pretty neat)
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:16 PM on April 8
Hey look! Over there!
It'sFrank SinatraItaly's Mount Etna
Sitting in a chair
And it's blowing
Perfectsmokecondensed water rings
Up into the a-iiiiiiir!
Doot do doot do doo
posted by mykescipark at 10:19 PM on April 8 [4 favorites]
It's
Sitting in a chair
And it's blowing
Perfect
Up into the a-iiiiiiir!
Doot do doot do doo
posted by mykescipark at 10:19 PM on April 8 [4 favorites]
No wonder they had dozens of gods back in the olden days, the moon eating the sun, mountains sending circles into the sky...spiritually everybody must have been freaking the f out constantly and they needed to come up with responsible parties.
posted by rhizome at 11:49 PM on April 8 [8 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 11:49 PM on April 8 [8 favorites]
Oh, said Mount Etna, I'm tired,
Oh, listless, bereft, uninspired,
Oh fly water vapor,
Oh shapely escaper,
Oh let my heart fiercely be fired
posted by MrVisible at 12:06 AM on April 9 [7 favorites]
Oh, listless, bereft, uninspired,
Oh fly water vapor,
Oh shapely escaper,
Oh let my heart fiercely be fired
posted by MrVisible at 12:06 AM on April 9 [7 favorites]
It's such an unusual shape and it tells you that the volcano is doing something very distinctive," she said.
"Yes, it's beautiful, but it's telling me that something is changing and in that sense it would be very smart to have caution."
I love vortex rings, and one of the more fun simple grade school level science things I did on my own was to make a vortex ring generator by cutting, very crudely, a 1.5" hole in the center of the bottom of an empty two lbs. coffee can and putting the airtight plastic lid on the top.
Slapping the lid would send a vortex ring across a 15' room and put out a candle. I thought it was amazing that the ring stayed the same size as it crossed the room instead of expanding.
The exotic quality of vortex rings is not just superficial, either. Recently a researcher showed that colliding vortex rings cause the Euler equations to blow up, the first demonstration that those equations are not completely adequate to describe incompressible fluid flow.
Back when Mt. St. Helen was acting up, rhythmic seismic signals preceded minor eruptions, and hose signal arose from lava moving up and down in a tube like a piston, which is just how the coffee can lid generated those vortex rings, so maybe Mt Etna blows a few rings before it spits out something more substantial.
posted by jamjam at 1:13 AM on April 9 [9 favorites]
"Yes, it's beautiful, but it's telling me that something is changing and in that sense it would be very smart to have caution."
I love vortex rings, and one of the more fun simple grade school level science things I did on my own was to make a vortex ring generator by cutting, very crudely, a 1.5" hole in the center of the bottom of an empty two lbs. coffee can and putting the airtight plastic lid on the top.
Slapping the lid would send a vortex ring across a 15' room and put out a candle. I thought it was amazing that the ring stayed the same size as it crossed the room instead of expanding.
The exotic quality of vortex rings is not just superficial, either. Recently a researcher showed that colliding vortex rings cause the Euler equations to blow up, the first demonstration that those equations are not completely adequate to describe incompressible fluid flow.
Back when Mt. St. Helen was acting up, rhythmic seismic signals preceded minor eruptions, and hose signal arose from lava moving up and down in a tube like a piston, which is just how the coffee can lid generated those vortex rings, so maybe Mt Etna blows a few rings before it spits out something more substantial.
posted by jamjam at 1:13 AM on April 9 [9 favorites]
I had the pleasure of witnessing one of Mt. Etna's vapor rings hiking up and around the volcano a few days ago. Most days, snowy clouds or high winds masked the peak or blew away any chance of seeing one. But, on a clear and still day, a terrific sight. It reminded me of my grandfather, impressing me with his tobacco pipe tricks. Etna, she likes to show off, too.
posted by UN at 2:35 AM on April 9 [12 favorites]
posted by UN at 2:35 AM on April 9 [12 favorites]
This brings back happy memories of my favorite uncle, who smoked a pipe.
posted by MtDewd at 4:32 AM on April 9
posted by MtDewd at 4:32 AM on April 9
Moss does this too!
disclaimer: I know the lead faculty of this, who introduces himself as "Sphagnum PI" when talking about this work.
posted by lalochezia at 5:18 AM on April 9 [5 favorites]
disclaimer: I know the lead faculty of this, who introduces himself as "Sphagnum PI" when talking about this work.
posted by lalochezia at 5:18 AM on April 9 [5 favorites]
No wonder they had dozens of gods back in the olden days, the moon eating the sun, mountains sending circles into the sky...spiritually everybody must have been freaking the f out constantly and they needed to come up with responsible parties.
This. I saw this video on the same day I witnessed the total solar eclipse here in Montreal and that's along the lines of what I was thinking: We have so many more tools now that can be used to understand, and yet it still seems to stretch or defy understanding.
[Even without the smoke rings Etna is a powerful draw. We've traveled in that area of Sicily and every time Etna came into view with the gentle rippling wisps of smoke, it commanded attention.]
posted by fruitslinger at 5:59 AM on April 9 [1 favorite]
This. I saw this video on the same day I witnessed the total solar eclipse here in Montreal and that's along the lines of what I was thinking: We have so many more tools now that can be used to understand, and yet it still seems to stretch or defy understanding.
[Even without the smoke rings Etna is a powerful draw. We've traveled in that area of Sicily and every time Etna came into view with the gentle rippling wisps of smoke, it commanded attention.]
posted by fruitslinger at 5:59 AM on April 9 [1 favorite]
I know the lead faculty of this, who introduces himself as "Sphagnum PI" when talking about this work
Does he sporet the mosstache?
posted by flabdablet at 6:05 AM on April 9 [7 favorites]
Does he sporet the mosstache?
posted by flabdablet at 6:05 AM on April 9 [7 favorites]
Cool thing to see but I'm extremely happy to not be living near it.
posted by tommasz at 9:06 AM on April 9
posted by tommasz at 9:06 AM on April 9
Gandalf in the magma chamber, smoking some Longbottom leaf and chillaxing with the balrog. Progress, folks!
posted by runincircles at 9:55 AM on April 9 [1 favorite]
posted by runincircles at 9:55 AM on April 9 [1 favorite]
No wonder they had dozens of gods back in the olden days, the moon eating the sun, mountains sending circles into the sky...spiritually everybody must have been freaking the f out constantly and they needed to come up with responsible parties.
I'm an atheist, but, I'll tell you, the first time I saw the Red Rocks of Sedona, I thought, yeah, I can get why you'd believe in supernatural powers if you lived around here.
In the meantime: Gandalf! Cut it out!
posted by praemunire at 10:23 AM on April 9 [1 favorite]
I'm an atheist, but, I'll tell you, the first time I saw the Red Rocks of Sedona, I thought, yeah, I can get why you'd believe in supernatural powers if you lived around here.
In the meantime: Gandalf! Cut it out!
posted by praemunire at 10:23 AM on April 9 [1 favorite]
Volcanoes are just, (as someone, with a Bachelors degree, IN GEOLOGY!!!), a mirror to see what puny humans we are against the forces of the earth. And living here in the PNW, I am surrounded by volcanoes. Most dormant for a while, (sorry Mt. St. Helens, you were a pretty mountain).
Mt Rainer decides to blow its top, there may well be more Pompeiis downstream. And let's not even think about the Yellowstone Caldera Supervolcano...
(Although, Since Yellowstone is the coolest place I have ever been to, I'm OK with Yellowstone just taking us out... Better than the orange guy. Would feel bad for all the cute bears though).
posted by Windopaene at 10:32 AM on April 9
Mt Rainer decides to blow its top, there may well be more Pompeiis downstream. And let's not even think about the Yellowstone Caldera Supervolcano...
(Although, Since Yellowstone is the coolest place I have ever been to, I'm OK with Yellowstone just taking us out... Better than the orange guy. Would feel bad for all the cute bears though).
posted by Windopaene at 10:32 AM on April 9
Fortunately* Yellowstone isn't likely to blow any time soon, or maybe never. So that's one less thing to worry about.
*Or maybe unfortunately, depending on one's outlook...
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:41 PM on April 9
*Or maybe unfortunately, depending on one's outlook...
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:41 PM on April 9
As an ex-volcanologist, yeah, volcanoes are scary. Just ask any Icelander.
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 2:01 PM on April 9 [1 favorite]
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 2:01 PM on April 9 [1 favorite]
And just like a flame love burned brightly then became
an empty smoke ring, that has
gone with the wind.
Etna Fitzgerald.
posted by hortense at 3:07 PM on April 9 [2 favorites]
an empty smoke ring, that has
gone with the wind.
Etna Fitzgerald.
posted by hortense at 3:07 PM on April 9 [2 favorites]
We have this wildly cool planet - a volcano is blowing smoke rings, the eclipse was magnificent - and we refuse to even consider taking slightly decent care of it.
posted by theora55 at 10:25 PM on April 9 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 10:25 PM on April 9 [1 favorite]
I saw the video, was reminded of Mario 64. How cool!
posted by fridgebuzz at 9:18 AM on April 10
posted by fridgebuzz at 9:18 AM on April 10
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