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Icelandic videographer captures mesmerizing volcanic lava flow, prompting 'fascinating' skepticism

By Chris Williams
Published  November 13, 2024 5:27pm EST
Natural Disasters
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Icelandic lava footage from videographer sparks 'fascinating' skepticism

An Icelandic videographer has released stunning footage from the February eruption at Sundhnukagigar, near Grindavik. (Credit: @jvn.photo via Storyful)

The Brief

    • Icelandic videographer Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove’s footage of lava flowing over snow went viral, gathering over 500,000 likes on Instagram.
    • Some viewers questioned the video’s authenticity due to the lack of steam, with Van Nieuwenhove explaining it as the "Leidenfrost Effect."
    • He shared additional footage to highlight how nature can defy expectations, leaving viewers fascinated by the unusual phenomenon.  

A volcanic eruption was spectacularly captured on footage by an Icelandic videographer. 

Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove shared the video to Instagram earlier this month of lava drifting across a snowy landscape at  Sundhnukagigar, near Grindavik.

The volcano erupted in February. 

His video went viral, garnering over 500,000 likes, and close to 5,000 comments.

The video was so incredible, some questioned "whether it was real because there’s no visible steam when the lava crosses over the snow". 

Van Nieuwenhove added that some "responded with skepticism, even calling it AI generated".

"I find this so fascinating because it demonstrates beautifully how us humans can still be surprised by how unique nature is," he said. "It shows how we perceive something to be fake because we can’t comprehend it. Isn’t that interesting?"

Van Nieuwenhove then shared wider-angle versions of both pieces of footage with Storyful.

He said that the lack of steam rising from the snow was likely down to a phenomenon known as the Leidenfrost Effect.

The effect was originally discovered in the 1700s. It refers to the process where water touches an extremely hot surface with the droplets instantly vaporizing. 

Instead of steam, the gas produced keeps the droplets suspended above the hot surface.

Van Nieuwenhove said the concept is "extremely fascinating if you ask me."

The Source

  • Storyful contributed to this report. The information and video in this story was obtained from vidoegrapher Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove. This story was reported from Los Angeles.