Lava Flows Over Snow Without Steam: Baffling Footage Sparks Scientific Explanation

Icelandic photographer Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove has captured a stunning video of lava flowing over snow at the Sundhnúkagígar volcanic eruption in February, leaving social media users in awe and sparking curiosity about the physics behind the phenomenon.

The clip, which has garnered over 432,000 likes, shows a clear sight of lava flowing over snow without any visible steam during the process. In an Instagram post accompanying the footage, Van Nieuwenhove expressed his own bewilderment at witnessing it in person and encouraged others to offer explanations for this unusual scenario.

Experts say that the reason behind the lack of visible steam lies in the Leidenfrost effect, a scientific principle where a liquid comes into contact with a surface much hotter than its boiling point. In this case, the extremely hot lava melts the top layer of the snow, creating a vapour barrier that shields the underlying snow from further heat.

Van Nieuwenhove explained this phenomenon in an interview, "The lava is so incredibly hot that it melts the top part of the snow, which then creates a vapour layer that shields the bottom part from the heat temporarily. This is similar to what you can observe when water droplets scorch on a hot metal plate."

Additionally, the rapid movement of the lava also contributes to the lack of visible steam, as it covers the snow surface before it has time to melt. "The speed at which the lava moves is such that it manages to cover the snow before it can start melting," said Van Nieuwenhove.

The extraordinary video not only showcases nature's raw beauty but also raises questions about the interplay between scientific explanations and visual perception. Whether viewers perceive visually stunning footage as more authentic or suspect, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing conversations surrounding the portrayal of natural phenomena in media.

The reaction to Van Nieuwenhove's post has been overwhelming, with users expressing their amazement at the sighting and offering alternative interpretations for the phenomenon.