Iceland's youngest volcano erupts with tornadoes.

The swirling vortex above the newly formed Litli-Hrútur volcano is the result of meteorological and geological factors.

Iceland's youngest volcano erupts with tornadoes.

A tornado spins around the rim of the Litli-Hrútur volcano. Video : Martin Sanchez

Loud rumbling sounds emanating from the eruption area on the Reykjanes Peninsula, according to a July 27 report by the Icelandic Meteorological Agency, indicate that pockets of methane trapped within the lava flow are exploding. The youngest volcano on Earth is causing swirling vortices that reach high into the sky.

The Litli-Hrútur volcano erupted through a fissure in the ground on July 10th and has been continuously spewing lava flows ever since. As the lava flows through areas with vegetation, methane gas is produced when the plants don't burn completely. This gas then accumulates in cavities within the lava. These pockets of methane gas mix with oxygen, forming a flammable gas mixture. Explosions occur when embers ignite these gas pockets. Authorities warn this poses a danger to anyone who gets too close to the lava flow.

The tornado forms above Litli-Hrútur due to a combination of meteorological and geological factors. The immense heat from molten rock erupting from the crater heats the air directly above, causing it to thin and rise. Under suitable wind conditions, this column of hot air rotates, creating a tornado. According to David Smart, a tornado and storm researcher at the Hazard Centre of the University of London, it is unclear whether the tornado forms from superheated volcanic debris suspended above the vent or from the heat of the lava flow itself.

"This is the type of tornado that can sometimes occur where there is a strong heat source at ground level and unstable air at altitudes below one kilometer or too close to the ground," Smart explained. Air is thought to be less stable when the temperature drops rapidly with altitude.

The young volcano shows no signs of slowing down. Researchers recently discovered changes in the activity of the vent that caused the crater to collapse, releasing lava to the north and west while the flow to the south has slowed.

An Khang (According to Live Science )

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