Waterspout from volcanic plume

[Bill Hark]

Here is a short video of a waterspout that formed adjacent to a volcanic plume. I've never seen video of a 'spout forming under these conditions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmacH8TkjM0&feature=related

I guess the mechanism is similar to those whirlwinds or firenadoes sometimes seen by forest fires.

Bill Hark

 

[Skip Talbot]

That is a great find, Bill. I'd guess this spout formed like a normal spouts do, except the source of the convection was different (volcanic heat vs. solar surface heating).