An Indonesian vent has erupted what seems to be electric - patrician lava flow , as photographed byReuben Wu . Although surreal , this brilliant puritanical coloration is a resolution of nothing more than a tweak of alchemy .
volcano come in a variety of destructive flavors , both on Earth and on other planetary bodies in our Solar System . Shield volcanoes likeKilaueaeffusively catch fire lava , pretty slow , over long time period of fourth dimension . Tall , mountainous stratovolcanoes likeMount Fujiremain silent for many C of years before unleashing their cataclysmal fury on the reality . volcano on Io , one of Jupiter ’s inmost moon , producespectacular eruption columnsthat attain elevation of 500 kilometers ( 310 statute mile ) that are literally out of this world . In any case , the lava produced tend to be an orangey - red color . improbably , a volcanic composite in Indonesia that goes by the name ofKawah Ijenbucks this course : When it erupts , its lava bite an iridescent blue .
The Ijenvolcanic complexis a aggregation of stratovolcanoes in East Java , contain a large caldron - shaped “ caldera ” that is approximately 22 kilometers ( 13.6 sea mile ) across . The mellow vizor belongs to the volcano Gunung Merapi , which very appropriately , if unoriginally , render as “ pile of fire . ”
epitome credit : Reuben Wu
As document beautifully byReuben Wu ’s incredible photography , Kawah Ijen is almost the definition of artificial , particularly at night . The lava is n’t texturally or physically that unlike from the form of lava that emerges from most stratovolcanoes : it ’s fairly gluey , slow moving , and around 600 - 900 ° C ( 1112 - 1652 ° F ) . In fact , the lava itself is red , not depressed . So what ’s going on here ?
Lava lets out a vast amount of thermic vim , as you might suppose , enough in fact tocook a steakover several clip . This emission of caloric radiation syndrome leave lava its red hue . In this case , however , the lava is actually burning something else : pockets of sulfur , which barf out of the volcanic scissure along with the molten rock .
burn off elementsis something we should all remember from our teenage year in chemistry class . When atomic number 19 is placed in the flame of a Bunsen burner , it burn and produces a lilac gloss . Burning calcium produces a yellowish - crimson flaming , and copper burns green - blue . Sulfur ? Yep , you ’ve guess it : when combust , in this guinea pig by the searing heat energy of the lava itself , it glow an iridescent blue .
The burning process let on much about the energy of the chemic reaction that is occur . A red coloration show a gloomy amount of energy is being release ; green hues are representative of moderately energetic chemical reaction . Blue flame are resign the most energy , meaning that the blueish fire of Kawah Ijen are fantastically gumptious . The caustic pocket , release under high pressure , ignite at temperatures of 600 ° C ( 1,112 ° F ) , producing flames that hand up to 5 meters ( 16 foot ) high-pitched , as theNerdistreports .
If you do go to Indonesia to check out the technicolor exhibit of inscrutable - red liquidity sulfur , bright gamey igniting sulfur , and the eerie walls of cooled , sensationalistic sulfur , do keep something in mind . sulphur gaseous state are , apart from being horrifically acrid , implausibly detrimental to the respiratory system . away from being an aesthetic wonder to wonder at , this volcano can defeat you without the lava even tinct you . upright take a gas mask with your DSLR photographic camera , then !
Reuben Wu ’s photography can be viewed onTwitter , Instagram , Facebook , and on his ownwebsite .
Image credit : Reuben Wu
