Tornadoes and volcanic eruptions that have been portrayed many times in Hollywood movies apparently are no match to a combination of both. Movie writers who are running out of ideas for stories centered on a terrifying and potentially deadly natural phenomenon could get an inspiration from Iceland, where a real-life combo of swirling whirlwind and fire has been spotted on Wednesday last week.
On Sept. 3, an infrared camera that was specially designed to monitor and allow pilots to see possibly dangerous ash clouds from planes captured a twister of gas and fire swirling as high as 3,300 feet into the air above Iceland's Bardarbunga volcano, which has been exhibiting seismic activities and eruptions since last month with some of its lava fountain reaching as high as 700 feet in the air.
It is not yet clear what caused the toxic tornado but scientists think the difference between hot and cold air may have something to do with the phenomenon similar to how dust devils form.
Dust devils, which are small whirlwind of air that becomes visible because of the dust and debris that are picked up from the ground, form when hot air near the ground rises quickly through cooler and denser air above it. The rising hot air and falling cold air then trigger the air to circulate vertically in what is called as convection cells. A horizontal gust of wind turns the circulating air cells causing them to spin horizontally forming vertical columns and starting a dust devil.
The inventor of the specially-designed infrared camera that captured the breathtaking event, Fred Prata, chief technology officer of the Nicarnica Aviation in Kjeller, Norway, said that they have not yet seen anything like the phenomenon before. He also said that the volcano tornado could likely be a spinning sulfur dioxide gas that is similar to a fire tornado.
"The generation mechanism is probably the same as that for dust devils, but in this case the tornado funnel is most likely filled with sulphur dioxide, gas and volcanic ash," Pata said.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has already warned of the possible dangers associated with the volcano tornadoes. Authorities arrested tourists who came very close to the hazard zone last week. For safety reasons, scientists and journalist were likewise advised to leave the lava field the same day that the volcano tornadoes appeared.
Watch the footage of the volcano tornado here:
