Eyjafjallajökull Ejects ‘Lava Lumps’

Eruption at the Eyjafjallajökull

Eyjafjallajökull has been ejecting “lumps of lava”  from the volcano crater in the glacier in the past few hours, local geo-scientists have reported.

The Electric Eyjafjallajökull. Date and photographer unknown. Image may be subject to copyright. Click Source for more photos. Click image to enlarge.

A column of ash steam and fumes rises above one of the three main craters at Eyjafjallajokull glacier. April 19, 2010. Soiurce: Reuters/Jon Gustafsson/Helicopter.is/Handout.

Meanwhile, Icelandic Meteorological Office reported that ashfall in the capital Reykjavik was unlikely. The risk is mitigated by easterly wind, blowing the ash away from the capital area, and rain forecast which could reduce the risk of ashfall.

Direct observations of Eyjafjallajökull showed  that lave was being splattered out of the volcano. The volcanic plume reached a height of about 3,000m (10000 feet), peaking to about 5,200m (17000 feet).

The local experts reported the plume as being  mostly white, “but with very dark pillars of smoke” blending in. “According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office website, the plume rose up to 4000 meters at 8:50 this morning. A lower plume indicates that water cannot enter the crater and that lava has begun to flow into it.”A report said.

There was no report of lava flows from the volcano, as of posting.

Ash Cloud Over Europe

Weather patterns continue to blow vast pockets of ash towards the UK and Ireland.

The UK Met Office, which is the North-west European Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre with responsibility for issuing the Volcanic Ash Advisories for volcanoes erupting in this area, said their priority and role is provide information that would support decision-making by NATS, CAA and other aviation authorities .

“It is for the aviation industry and regulator to set thresholds for safe ash ingestion. Currently, world-wide advice from ICAO is based on engine and airframe manufacturers stating that aircraft should not be exposed to any volcanic ash.” It said.

Shades of orange represent the volcanic ash in the atmosphere. © Copyright EUMETSAT/Met Office. Click image to enlarge.

• Click here for the animation page

The above is an illustration of volcanic ash dispersion up to 20,000 ft, issued at 7 am on 19 April. Advisory charts are issued every six hours, for up to 18 hours ahead, by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center.

Volcanic Ash Advisory Graphics from London Met Office. Image may be subject to copyright. Click image to enlarge.

Ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull reached  Canada’s Eastern seaboard

“The ash cloud is very diffuse, moving slowly and should not affect Canadian airports,” said an Environment Canada spokeswoman.

A forecaster at UK’s Met Office said it was unlikely that the ash would drift much further into North America.

“It is just skirting into the Newfoundland area over the next 12 to 18 hours. It doesn’t look as if it is going to get much further west than that, just on the coast and a little further inland.” He said.

Newfoundland is the closest tip of North America to Iceland.

Photo Links:

• Photo Gallery Visir
• Older Photos Reuters

Related Links – Fire-Earth entries on Eyjafjallajökull and other useful  sources:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page

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