Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

The size of the columns is primarily determined by the speed at which lava from a volcanic eruption cools.

So it immediately cools, and it can no longer hold in suspension all of the material that it's dissolved, and it precipitates out, forming black smoke.

You let it cool to room temperature, and then, as the ammonia re evaporates and combines with the water back on the erstwhile hot side, it creates a powerful cooling effect.