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Europe’s most active volcano, Mount Etna in Italy, erupted on August 13th. The eruption came after weeks of mild activity during which the volcano emitted smoke rings. The eruption produced a thick plume of smoke that was visible from space. Satellite images taken by Europe’s weather satellite, MTGI-1, showed the dark sulfur-rich plume spreading southward from Sicily across the Mediterranean Sea towards the coast of Libya.

The eruption of Mount Etna included spectacular geysers of lava but posed no immediate danger to residents of Sicily. However, a local airport was closed due to high concentrations of volcanic ash in the air. Volcanic ash, which contains particles of molten rock, can damage aircraft engines and poses a significant risk to aviation.

The smoke rings emitted by Mount Etna were so large that they were visible even in satellite images taken from space. This rare phenomenon occurs when a bubble of gas bursts through the volcanic vent. Volcano experts and random observers shared images of these rings on social media platforms.

Italy’s Civil Protection Department issued a moderate warning for Mount Etna’s activity and highlighted the potential disruption to air travel and air quality in the Mediterranean region. Although the volcano is known for its frequent eruptions, it is not typically considered dangerous as its lava rivers flow slowly and require a significant amount of time to reach surrounding settlements.

The eruption of Mount Etna serves as a reminder of the power and unpredictability of volcanic activity.

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