Pictures: When Snow and Ice Meet Lava

A Steamy Scene

Photograph by Ben Edwards

When extreme cold meets extreme heat, the result can be unpredictable phenomena. In some instances, as lava pours over snow, meltwater trickles down between the ice crystals. This results in a steamy river (pictured) flowing from beneath the snow and ice.

This picture was taken in the middle of a snowstorm, said Edwards, who added that the stream was between 104°F and 122°F (40°C to 50°C).

Published May 8, 2013

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

Photograph by Ben Edwards

A blocky lava flow, known as 'a'a lava, rolls over snow in Russia's Kluchevskoy Nature Park.

The bright orange block measured about three feet (one meter) across, said Edwards, and had just tumbled from the front of the 'a'a flow.

Blocks continued to roll off the front of the flow, and that was how the whole thing moved forward, he explained—"kind of like a tractor tread."

Published May 8, 2013

Frozen Banks

Photograph by Ben Edwards

Sometimes lava flows plow against a snow bank (pictured), carve out caves within a glacier, or slip underneath the ice.

"In Russia, we saw everything," Edwards said. "We saw lava flows start to burrow under the snow, [creating pileups]."

For instance, researchers saw a lava flow push up a dome of snow that rose seven to ten feet (two to three meters) into the air. The surface started to crack and lava started to peek through, Edwards said. (See pictures of the weird and beautiful things snow and ice can do.)

Published May 8, 2013

Heating Blanket

Photograph by Ben Edwards

Volcanic ash—the gray, sandy material pictured—can act like an insulator, protecting the underlying snow from lava flows, Edwards said. That's why you don't see any steam in this photograph, he added.

"There are cases where blocks of snow have been preserved for decades, if not longer, in these kinds of conditions," he said.

"Once you get five to ten centimeters of ash, it's a pretty effective blanket," he explained.

Published May 8, 2013

Molten Canyon

Photograph by Ben Edwards

In Kamchatka, Russia, tourists guided by a park ranger (far left), view a channel of molten rock flowing down a canyon in older lava deposits in Kluchevskoy Nature Park.

Understanding how lava reacts with snow and ice is also important for predicting potential hazards to people in the area, said Edwards. This park saw a catastrophic eruption in the 1970s, which destroyed a couple of huts used by park tourists. (Related: "Philippine Volcano Deaths Raise Climbing Questions.")

Published May 8, 2013

See More Pictures of Erupting Volcanoes

Photograph by Cai Tjeenk Willink, Virunga National Park

Published May 8, 2013