International
oi-Saumya Joshi
A
stunning
video
of
lava
flowing
over
snow
in
Iceland
has
gone
viral,
captivating
viewers
worldwide.
Captured
by
Icelandic
photographer
Jeroen
Van
Nieuwenhove,
the
mesmerizing
footage
showcases
a
steady
stream
of
lava
swiftly
moving
across
a
pristine
snow-covered
landscape
at
Sundhnúkagígar
in
Iceland.
While
the
visuals
are
breathtaking,
many
online
were
left
puzzled,
questioning
the
authenticity
of
the
clip.
Some
even
speculated
that
the
video
was
AI-generated
due
to
the
lack
of
steam
forming
when
the
hot
lava
met
the
snow.
This
sparked
widespread
intrigue
and
discussion
about
the
unusual
natural
phenomenon.
To
clear
up
the
confusion,
Nieuwenhove
took
to
social
media
to
explain
the
rare
occurrence.
He
shared
that
the
phenomenon
is
likely
the
result
of
the
Leidenfrost
effect,
where
the
extreme
heat
of
the
lava
creates
a
thin
vapour
layer
on
the
snow’s
surface,
preventing
the
lower
layers
from
melting
immediately.
This
vapour
barrier
behaves
similarly
to
water
droplets
dancing
on
a
hot
pan.
Nieuwenhove
further
explained
that
the
speed
of
the
lava
allows
it
to
cover
the
snow
before
it
can
melt,
trapping
it
beneath
the
lava
flow.
Nieuwenhove
also
addressed
scepticism,
noting
that
Hollywood
movies
often
depict
lava
in
an
unrealistic
manner,
leading
to
misconceptions
about
how
lava
behaves
in
nature.
“People
are
surprised
by
what
it
looks
like,
how
it
moves,
how
it
sounds,
and
how
it
interacts
with
its
surroundings,” he
said.
This
rare
spectacle
of
lava
meeting
snow
has
fascinated
many
and
served
as
a
reminder
of
how
nature
can
surprise
us
with
its
unique
and
sometimes
bewildering
phenomena.
