This happens in the case of volcano smoke rings, when the mountain creates perfectly round clouds of smoke that float upwards into the air. While they look playful and almost intentional, looking as if they are being put there for decorative effect, there is actually a complex combination of physics at work.
What is the Science behind these Rings
These are actually not smoke rings, in the strictest sense of the term. They are produced largely through hot water vapor and volcanic gases along with some volcanic ash. When hot gas escapes through a small opening with a quick burst, the reaction is much like what happens when hot air is blown through pursed lips.
Gas in the middle goes faster compared to the outer parts that rub against the walls of the vent opening and create enough difference in speeds to curve inward and form a spinning ring that breaks away and rises.
How Motion Retains the Ring’s Integrity
The trick to why this ring is stable has to do with its rotation. As the gas revolves, it sustains itself in a kind of cyclical motion that helps it remain intact, contrary to what happens in an actual plume, which falls apart much sooner.
As it revolved, the hot gas cooled, forming droplets, causing the ring to suddenly appear against the blue of the sky.
Why Only Certain Volcanoes Create Them
Not all volcanoes are able to do this trick. This is because the volcanic vent has to be almost circular and the right size. Also, the pressure should build up gradually and then release suddenly and not as an explosion.
One volcanic mountain that does all these well is Mount Etna in Italy. They have been able to form thousands of tree rings. Others are Stromboli and Sakurajima, though they are nowhere near Mount Etna.
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Are These Rings a Warning Sign?
Despite being so striking, these ring formations and they are in no way indicative of a proposed or escalating eruption threat, but rather represent a gentle release of gases. They are regarded as a form of natural fluid dynamics display by scientists rather than a sign of volcanic activity.
A rare volcanic phenomenon where smoke and gas released from a small vent forms a rotating smoke ring.
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) December 20, 2025
When Science Goes Viral
Videos of Etna spewing perfect rings across social media sites are causing many viewers to be amazed by what they see. Against a bright blue sky, a perfect ring develops slowly, creating what appears to be a playful scene from a volcano that could potentially be destructive. In those moments, Earth shows us how a function of science is just another side of beauty.
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Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes and explains natural phenomena based on established scientific principles and observations.
