Drone captures the real clash of lava and snow in Iceland
A recording showcasing an unusual interaction between lava and snow in Iceland has generated significant buzz online. Some viewers believed it was the result of artificial intelligence, but the creator of the footage confirms it is entirely real.
The remarkable video footage by Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove captures lava flowing from the Sundhnúkagígar craters, gradually moving over Iceland's snow-covered landscape. The recording is from an eruption in February 2024, part of a series of eruptions from Sundhnúkur that have caused damage since 2023, including destruction in the town of Grindavík. It was captured using a drone.
Fire versus ice in a unique recording
IFLS Science, which highlighted the footage, reports that the video quickly gained immense popularity after being shared on social media, amassing over 500,000 likes. However, some internet users believed the recording was created using artificial intelligence.
The creator refuted these speculations, assuring that the footage is authentic and was not tampered with or sped up. "I find this so fascinating because it demonstrates beautifully how us humans can still be surprised by how unique nature is," Van Nieuwenhove wrote in a social media post. "It shows how we perceive something to be fake because we can’t comprehend it. Isn’t that interesting?" he added.
Doubts also emerged due to the absence of steam, which was surprising given the contact between hot lava and snow. Curious about this phenomenon, Van Nieuwenhove consulted with experts who explained that it might be due to the Leidenfrost effect. Described for the first time in the 18th century, this effect explains that liquid near a hot surface forms an insulating layer of gas, preventing rapid evaporation. Therefore, at the contact point between snow and lava, no steam is formed, but rather an insulating gas layer, reports IFL Science.
Van Nieuwenhove notes that many people have misconceptions about the properties of lava, possibly due to special effects in movies. "One thing I have realized while documenting the ongoing series of eruptions in Iceland the last four years is that most people perceive how lava should ‘behave’ incorrectly. I suspect special effects in movies have something pretty significant to do with that. People are surprised by what it looks like, how it moves, how it sounds, and how it interacts with its surroundings," he emphasized.
