By Naturemybackyard

wow

Repost @jvn.photo

"One of my favorite captures this year is this top-down clip of lava flowing over snow. I managed to capture this moment during the February eruption at Sundhnúkagígar this year. This clip sparked a lot of debate in the comments section, as people questioned whether it was real because there’s no visible steam when the lava crosses over the snow. I must admit, it also baffled me when I saw it in person, so I decided to seek explanations.

What happens is likely the result of the Leidenfrost effect. 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. Similarly to what you can observe when water droplets scoot around on a hot metal plate. The lava moves so fast that it actually manages to cover the snow before it can melt. As a result, it is all trapped underneath the fresh lava. Extremely fascinating if you ask me.

📷 This was captured using the DJI Mavic 3 Pro using the 7x telephoto lens."

Andy Goldsworthy