Rare “Volnado” Captured at Kīlauea Volcano

This week, live cameras set up at Kīlauea in Hawaii managed to catch something quite unusual. A slow-moving “Volnado” formed beside the lava, reminding everyone of the volcano’s ever-active state.

A video put out by the US Geological Survey (USGS) displayed a column of ash being drawn into a twisting vortex, with molten rocks erupting into the air.

The swirling clouds bore a resemblance to a tornado, yet they were distinctly volcanic. It’s an intriguing phenomenon, really.

“I know you’ve heard of volcanoes, but what about Volnado?” the USGS lightheartedly wrote in a social media post, which quickly caught on across various science and nature discussions.

Scientists explain that such whirlwinds typically happen when they mix with the cooler air above the crater, causing a turbulent environment that can lead to visible twirls, sometimes throwing ash and gas hundreds of feet upward.

Just this week marked the 32nd eruption event at Kīlauea since December, further establishing it as one of the planet’s most active volcanoes. Interestingly, the eruption came to an end overnight, and thankfully, officials noted that there was no threat to nearby communities.

Kīlauea is situated on a large Hawaiian island, approximately 200 miles south of Honolulu, nestled within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Long known as the dwelling place of the Hawaiian goddess Pele, the Halemau Mau craters have changed considerably in recent years. The significant collapse back in 2018 created a whole new landscape while recent eruptions led to the formation of new lava lakes and gas venting areas.

USGS operates several live cameras focusing on the craters, offering the public a unique and real-time look at volcanic activity. These feeds provide valuable data for volcanologists to analyze the eruption dynamics.

For those living nearby or visiting, it’s an intriguing glimpse into the forces that shape the island’s terrain.

While “Volnados” might seem out of the ordinary, scientists assure that they aren’t all that surprising. Similar whirlwinds have been observed during volcanic activity in Alaska and Iceland as well as in earlier Kīlauea eruptions. They usually don’t introduce any significant risks beyond the eruptions themselves.