Grímsvötn Sulfur Dioxide Signature

SO2 plume emitted during Grímsvötn brief eruption

The images and animation links below show the emission and transport of SO2 from Iceland’s Grímsvötn Volcano May 22 – 26, 2011. The images are based on measurements taken by the AIRS on NASA’s Aqua spacecraft and presented using GEOS-5 experimental model. Source: NASA-EO.

Plume on May 24, 2011

Plume as measured on May 23, 2011.  Click images to enlarge.

• downloadhigh definition animation (13 MB, QuickTime)
• download web resolution animation (5 MB, QuickTime)

Grímsvötn’s explosive eruption began at 17.30UTC on Saturday May 21 and lasted for just over a week.  The volcano paused at 7:00 UTC Saturday May 28, 2011.

Eruption cloud from Grímsvötn volcano at 22:00 UTC May 21st 2011 captured by Icelandic met Office Weather Radar located at Keflavik International Airport located about 220 km from the volcano. The eruption cloud covers a large section of Vatnajökull ice cap.

The onset of May 21 eruption in Grímsvötn. Photo credit: Ólafur Sigurjónsson, Forsæti III. Source: Icelandic Met Office (IMO)

Eruption continued on May 24. Photo credit: Árni Sigurðsson/ via IMO.

This Icelandic feature (photo posted at IMO without a caption, presumably showing the crater after the eruption had stopped) was taken by Vilhjálmur S. Kjartansson. Source: IMO. Note: IMO images may be subject to copyright.

Related Links

• Grímsvötn Eruption – May 25
• Grímsvötn Eruption – Recent Images
• Large Magma Lake Lurking Beneath Iceland

• IMO photos
• Iceland’s Grímsvötn volcano erupts
• List of blog entries and external links to Eyjafjöll Eruption
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Satellite Animation 6 – 17 May

Eyjafjallajökull Volcanic Plume Still Bursting to 9km (27,000 ft)

Volcano Status Report by IMO – 17 May 2010 18:05

The plume from Eyjafjallajökull eruption is reaching a height of about 7 km a.s.l, Icelandic weather radar shows, with bursts of about 9 km (27,000 ft). Increasing wind speed is forcing down the easterly drifting plume which has now turned dark-gray, IMO said.

[Note: The new development may mean an increase in the amount of tephra that is being ejected. ]

Lightning reported at the crater summit striking at a rate of about 10 flashes per hour.

The activity is explosive, but somewhat less violent than May 13 scenario. Considerable ashfall has been reported at the adjacent areas and is expected to continue. The force of activity is expected fluctuate in the foreseeable future.

More details available in the status report.

Satellite image (SEVIRI BTD) showing ash ejected from Eyjafjallajökull, click to animate. Origin and technique described under May 7, entry. Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Closes Down Main UK Airports
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Gradually Intensifying
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – MISR Satellite Image
• Eyjafjallajökull Volcano: Unending Eruption
• 2010 Year of Super Volcanoes?
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page [This page contains a comprehensive index of links to resources on Eyjafjallajökull including additional satellite images.]

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Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – MISR Satellite Image

Images of the 2nd Round of Eruption at Eyjafjallajökull Volcano

Eyjafjallajökull Volcano produced its second major ash plume of 2010 on May 7.  The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite collected data on ash height when it passed just east of the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano mid-morning on May 7.

MISR has nine different cameras, each viewing the scene below from a difference angle nearly simultaneously. By combining all these images using a hyper-stereo technique, scientists can calculate the height of the ash plume.

The above image is a natural-color, nadir (downwards-looking) view of the scene. The top image is the stereo-derived plume height. Each pixel in the image shows an area 1.1 kilometers (0.68 miles) wide. The vertical accuracy is about 0.5km.

Much of the plume resides between 4 and 6 kilometers above the ocean surface (orange and red color in the right image), but the ash descends to near 3 kilometers yellow-green) far downwind.  Images and caption: NASA/MISR [edited for brevity.]

Status Report – 15 May 2010 (3:55UTC)

The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) reported plume reaching a height of about 7 km (24,000 ft) drifting in a  southwesterly direction. Ashfall was detected in the capital Reykjavík.

At least  50 lightning strikes were recorded during the previous 24 hours. No major changes in the activity were reported. There’s no sign the eruption could end anytime soon.

For details of status report by IMO and others click here.

LATEST NEWS FROM ICELAND:

Volcanic ash from Eyjafjallajokull eruption has forced the authorities to shut down the intentional airport at Reykjavík, the country’s main airport, authorities say.

UK Airspace

Parts of the UK’s airspace may close on Sunday as volcanic ash clouds continue to drift south of Iceland, the UK Department for Transport said, BBC reported.

Last week, about a dozen airports in southern Europe were forced to close and many flights were re-routed to avoid the risk from the Icelandic ash clouds.

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Volcano: Unending Eruption
• 2010 Year of Super Volcanoes?
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption UPDATE – Latest MODIS Image
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Latest Satellite Image
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page [This page contains a comprehensive index of links to resources on Eyjafjallajökull including additional satellite images.]

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Serial No 1,729. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Renewed Eyjafjallajökull ash causes more air chaos

Dozens of airports closed, hundreds of flights canceled,  many more diverted.

Renewed eruption at Eyjafjallajökull caused more volcanic ash to invade European airspace, forcing a new wave of flight cancellations and airport closures in Spain, as well as parts of Ireland Italy, Portugal, Scotland and the England.

At least 28 airports were forced to close from several hours to more than a day, causing hundreds of cancellations, and many flight diversions.

There were also flight cancellation to and from Switzerland, Southern and Central France, Northern Italy and Northern Portugal.

IMO Status Report said the eruption was  still in an explosive phase,  with the plume reaching a height of about 5km.

Volcanic Ash Shuts Down Spanish Airports

Eyjafjallajökull from Hvolsvelli webcam

Eyjafjallajökull eruption seen from Hvolsvelli webcam. Top of the plume is seen emerging and towering above the clouds. Click image to enlarge.

Volcanic Ash Advisory from London – Issued graphics (UK Met Office)

Click image to enlarge.

Eyjafjallajökull Ash Cloud still drifting toward southern Europe. © Copyright EUMETSAT/Met Office. Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – MODIS Image – UPDATE May 8
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE May 7
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – ALI-EO1 Satellite Image Posted on May 6, 2010
• Volcanic Ash Closes Parts of UK Airspace Again Posted on May 5, 2010
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Intensifies, Flight Ban Imposed Posted on May 4, 2010

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Update MAY 2 Posted on May 2, 2010
• Eyjafjallajökull – Shock Waves Caught on Video
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Portents Catastrophic Sequence
• Lava finally flows from Icelandic scientific band
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt

• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page [This page contains a comprehensive index of links to info on Eyjafjallajökull.]

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| Tagged: iceland ash cloud, Iceland volcano, MODIS Image of Eyjafjallajökull eruption, Satellite Image of Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE May 7

Fire-Earth Forecasts a Large Explosion at Eyjafjallajökull Glacier, Possibly Soon

New Ash Cloud Grounds Flights

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), the body responsible for Irish airspace, has imposed flight restrictions at six of Ireland’s airports from 00:00UTC on Friday, citing risks from new volcanic ash cloud.

The flight bans are at Shannon, Donegal, Knock, Galway, Kerry and Sligo airports , which will remain shut until at least  12:00UTC on Friday, May 7, 2010.

The new ash cloud from the ongoing eruption at Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull Glacier volcano  was penetrating the Irish airspace along the west coast of Ireland, the IAA reported.

“The restrictions are required as the increased level of recent volcanic activity has created a massive ash cloud stretching 1,000 miles long and 700 miles wide,” an IAA spokesperson told reporters.

Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull Volcano began a fresh round of explosive ash eruptions in the first week of May. On the morning of May 6, 2010, MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this view of a thick plume of ash blowing east and then south from the volcano.  Ash clouds can have a dramatic influence on air quality and vegetation, including crops. In Iceland, the ash from Eyjafjallajokull has settled thickly on the ground, posing a threat to livestock and wildlife. Image and Caption NASA. [Edited for brevity.] Download large image (880 KB, JPEG)

Recent Status [IMO and Webcams]

• Explosive activity has been increasing since May 4, 2010.
• Ash plume shooting higher, reaching up to 9km (30,000 feet) a.s.l.
• Tephra fallout on the rise.
• “Considerable ashfall at Þykkvabæjarklaustur in Álftaver (at a distance of 65-70 km), (everything has turned black). It has not been established whether the ash cloud south of Eyjafjallajökull is ashfall or ash that has already fallen and is being blown from the ground.” IMO said.
• “Discharge from Gígjökull decreases further and meltwater seems to be running from the eastern side of the glacier. This is different from Tuesday’s meltwater were water was running from the west side. Lava flow might be changing the direction of meltwater flow. Such changes should be taken seriously with regard to possible outbursts due to accumulation of meltwater.”
• Earthquakes occurring at a rate of about 1 per hour (average M2., largest 2.2Mw).
  [should start packing your bags if the frequency reaches 3-5 per hour and the magnitude rises above 3.3Mw. FEWW]
• Eruption appears to be ongoing.
• No measurable geophysical changes within the Katla volcano reported.
• System chaos is increasing,  rather than decreasing.

Volcanic Ash Advisory from London – Issued graphics

Click image to enlarge.

Earthquake location   07 May 15:05 GMT [IMO]

© Veðurstofa Íslands. Click image to enlarge.

Freeze Frame Eyjafjallajökull Hvolsvöllur Webcam (15:30UTC). Fire-Earth estimates the plume to be reaching a height of about 7km a.s.l. Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – ALI-EO1 Satellite Image Posted on May 6, 2010
• Volcanic Ash Closes Parts of UK Airspace Again Posted on May 5, 2010
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Intensifies, Flight Ban Imposed Posted on May 4, 2010
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Update MAY 2 Posted on May 2, 2010

• Eyjafjallajökull – Shock Waves Caught on Video
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Portents Catastrophic Sequence
• Lava finally flows from Icelandic scientific band
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page [This page contains a comprehensive index of links to info on Eyjafjallajökull.]

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Serial No 1,687. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Intensifies, Flight Ban Imposed

New clouds of volcanic ash force Ireland flight ban

Ireland imposes a six-hour flight ban, as a section of British airspace is closed

An intensified wave of seismic activity, which began on May 2, PM,  and is still ongoing, the volcano people at the Icelandic Meteorological Office and Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland reported largest plumes of ash reaching a maximum height of about 5.2km height (17,000 ft) a.s.l., as estimated
by the Icelandic Coast Guard during an observation flight at 14:30 local time.

The plume reached a new height of about 5.5km after a major explosion about 30 minutes later. For more details, see  Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull
Status Report: 16:00 GMT, 03 May 2010 (PDF file)

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption photo dated 2010.05.02 – Sigrún Hreinsdóttir – 1. Source: IESNVC. Image may be subject to copyright. For older images see link in the corresponding sections. Click image to enlarge.

Volcanic Ash Cloud Over Ireland

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) grounded all flights into and out of Ireland from 06:00 GMT (UTC) to midday on Tuesday as a safety precaution against potential dangers posed by the new volcanic cloud from Iceland.

“Ireland falls within the predicted area of ash concentrations that exceed acceptable engine manufacturer tolerance levels,” IAA statement said.

“The decision is based on the safety risks to crews and passengers as a result of the drift south of the volcanic ash cloud caused by the north easterly winds.”

The statement added that  “over-flights of Ireland from the UK and Europe will not be impacted tomorrow. Flights in mainland Europe will operate normally.”

Up to a thousand Irish flights affected

Up to a thousand flights in and out of Dublin airport  Shannon and Cork in the south of the country as well as in the smaller regional airports were reportedly affected.

IAA chief  Eamon Brennan was reported as saying that winds had already pushed volcanic ash on to Ireland airspace.

“Some of the denser volcanic ash, that’s the no-fly zone, is over the (County) Donegal area (in the northwest) and we are concerned about the northeasterly winds moving this down over the rest of the country,’’ he told RTE state radio.

“At the moment we have a slither of denser ash over the midlands.”

Limited airspace closures in Scotland

Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) warned “increased concentrations of volcanic ash in the atmosphere are forecast to cause limited airspace closures in Scotland” on late Monday and Tuesday (local time).

Icelandic Met Office reported:  “No measurable geophysical changes within the Katla volcano.”

It’s highly probable that they are looking down the wrong volcano, however. Volcanic chain reactions are not as regular, or indeed predictable as, say, the 4 seasons.

The pattern of seismic activity in Iceland:

The pattern of seismicity in Iceland is virtually unchanged sine the initial eruption occurred more than 2 weeks ago:

Iceland’s Map of Seismicity. Click image to enlarge and update (assuming the image is still there). Source IMO. See source for copyright information.

On April 20, 2010 Fire Earth said:

Iceland seismic record for the past 48 hours shows 7  separate cluster of quakes in the vicinity of the following volcanoes (See image below)

1. Kolbeinsey ridge (Last erupted: 1999)
2. Krafla (1984)/ Theistareykjarbunga (< 1000 BC)/ Tjörnes fracture zone (1868)
3. Askja (1961)
4. Bárðarbunga (1903) and neighboring Grímsvötn (2004)
5. Grímsnes (> 3500 BC)
6. Reykjanes (1879)
7. Eyjafjallajökull (Currently ongoing)

Bárdarbunga, one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland, is a massive volcano with a  700-m-deep caldera which lies beneath the NW Vatnajökull icecap.  A fissure eruption at Thjorsarhraun produced about 21 km³ of lava, the largest known Holocene lava flow on the planet.

Powerful eruptions may occur among the volcanoes lying along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The plate tectonics could also translate into increased seismicity along the divergent plate boundary and boundaries of neighboring plates.

Source: Iceland Met Office. © Veðurstofa Íslands

Further evidence  …

On April 22, 2010 Fire-Earth said: The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt

The pattern of seismicity in Iceland has remained almost unchanged from two days ago, while the eruption at Eyjafjallajökull has become less explosive.

Loads of magma seem to be flowing under the land of Ice and Fire [Iceland,] but where is it all going?

In Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting posted on April 20,2010, Fire Earth Moderators said they believed Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting or is about to Erupt.

Seismic events occurring between Apr 18 – 20,2010

Source: Iceland Met Office. © Veðurstofa Íslands

Seismic events occurring between Apr 20 – 22,2010

Source: Iceland Met Office. © Veðurstofa Íslands

Volcanic Ash Advisory from London – Latest graphics   click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge.

Iceland Volcanic Eruption – click image to enlarge

These images are monitoring for the presence of volcanic ash emission in the vicinity of Iceland using infrared data from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite. Because cloud particles and volcanic ash particles interact with the infrared radiation in different ways, data at several different wavelengths can be combined to identify the main ash plume, which, when present, would be shown as yellow and orange colours in the images. Note that it is only the thicker parts of the plume that are able to be detected by this method. In addition, the ash plume is often masked by overlying high cloud. UK Met Office – © Copyright EUMETSAT/Met Office.

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Portents Catastrophic Sequence
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption

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Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Update MAY 2

Eyjafjallajökull Quietly Erupting

Volcanic Activity Report: May 02, 2010

Icelandic Met Office reported plume elevations and lava discharge levels close to the average activity during the past week. Lava is till flowing in a northerly direction from the crater and cascading  down the Gígjökull glacier. “Today’s explosive activity and ash production represents a fraction of conditions during the height of the eruption (14-17 April). Presently, there are no measurable indications that the eruption is about to end.”

See also joint  Status Report released by Icelandic Meteorological Office and Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland (PDF file).

No new photo was available, as of posting,  neither at the Institute of Earth Sciences nor Icelandic Met Office websites, presumably to prevent commercial exploitation [sic.]

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull – Shock Waves Caught on Video
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Portents Catastrophic Sequence
• Lava finally flows from Icelandic scientific band
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page [This page contains a comprehensive index of links to info on Eyjafjallajökull.]

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Serial No 1,659. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Portents Catastrophic Sequence

Three Reasons Why the Moderators Believe a  Sequence of Catastrophic Eruptions May Occur in Iceland

1. It would be consistent with the resurgence of volcanic activity globally, which may have started recently.
2. Historically, the eruptions at Eyjafjallajökull have been associated with subsequent eruptions at a larger volcano, usually Katla.
3. Volcanic eruptions are a component of the planet’s defense mechanism.

In our opinion, the question is no longer “if” but “how soon” a cataclysmic event, or indeed a series of events would occur.

The answer, we believe, is found in EDRO Collapse Model.  As of 2010, Google Civilizations are about half way through the human-induced antiphase.

• 2010 Year of Super Volcanoes?
• A New Era of Intense Volcanic Unrest May Have Begun
• First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Earth’s Human Induced Antiphase Nears Completion

Status Update:

Eruption at Eyjafjallajökull continues unabated. No significant change reported since previous update.

An image of the eruption at Eyjafjallajökull (2010.04.24 – Þórdís Högnadóttir – 2). No other information available in English. Source: Institute of Earth Sciences. Image may be subject to copyright. Older images …

Related Links:

• Lava finally flows from Icelandic scientific band
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 21 April
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page [This page contains a comprehensive index of links to info on Eyjafjallajökull.]

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Serial No 1,629. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Lava finally flows from Icelandic scientific band

Lava flows northwards from the Eyjafjallajökull crater, melting the glacial ice: Report

The local experts do not believe large-scale flooding could occur from the melt water, but then again …

Oh, and if you are wondering why everyone in Iceland is suddenly speaking about lava flow in the past tense, you’re not alone. The rascals didn’t tell anyone lava had started flowing 4 days ago!

Notice: The following updates were issued by various Icelandic organizations. Unlike the govt organizations in the US, nearly all of the  information broadcast by government organizations and educational outlets in Iceland and most European countries may be subject to copyright. If your use of their data goes beyond the educational use/ fair use, be sure to contact the authors for copyright clarification/ permission.

Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management -Media team

Specialists from the Institute of the Earth Sciences (http://www.earthice.hi.is/ ) and the Icelandic Meteorological Office (http://www.vedur.is) flew over the eruption site in Eyjafjallajökull late yesterday. The lava flow seems to be of similar volume as in recent days (20-40 tons per second). The quantity of the volcanic plume is slowly decreasing. The flow of lava is most likely to have started near noon on April 21 when water started flowing continuously from Gígjökull. Steam plumes rose from the northern edges of the caldera after noon on that day and could be seen from a helicopter. Deflation associated with the volcanic tremor was noticed at the same time. There are no signs of melting or flow of water to the south. There are also no indications that the eruption is coming to an end.

There are still disruptions in domestic and international flights, according to information from ISAVIA, and passengers are therefore strongly advised to seek further information from air carriers and at: http://www.textavarp.is/ .

Icelandic Met Office Report

Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland

Indications of lava flow to the north – 25 April 11:30

Yesterday evening, geophysicists from the Institute of the Earth Sciences found indications of lava flow from the eruption site. The risk of sudden melt water flow is, however, minor. Following is their description:

“North of crater a roughly 300 m long and wide depression has been melted out in the last three days. Steam plumes rise from the depression, especially at the margins. This is explained by lava flowing northwards from the crater with the steam rising where lava meets ice … Flow of lava is considered to have begun around noon on Wednesday 21 April.”

Icelandic Meteorological Office and Institute of Earth Sciences, UoI

Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull – status report 25 April 2010 at 1800

Eruption plume:
Height( a.s.l):  Unknown, not seen above cloud cover at 5.3 km.
Heading:  NW
Tephra fallout:  Minor (light fallout detected at two farms 10 km NW of vents)

Conditions at eruption site: Overall activity similar as yesterday.  Eruption seen from west in the morning – north crater still active.  External water has not affected vent activity much since 18 April.  Geologists field observations (2-10 km from vents) show that explosivity is magmatic and that the tephra produced since 18 April is much coarser than during first four days.  Explosions heard at Fljótshlíð, 10-15 km NW of vents.   Meltwater discharge suggest similar lava activity.  Processing of data obtained yesterday shows that lava had advanced 400-500 m northwards from crater, forming an ice depression extending some 700 m from vents.

Overall assessment:  Magma flow rate has remained at similar level over the last few days.  Plume activity is gradually declining.  Flow continues flowing towards north.  No signs of melting or meltwater discharge towards south.  No signs of termination of eruption.Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull – status report 24 April 2010 at 1700
Eruption plume: Height( a.s.l): 13000 feet (4 km)
Tephra fallout: Minor (plume dark but no reports of fallout in districts around volcano)
Meltwater: 100-120 m3/s, based on gauge at old Markarfljót bridge and a rough estimate of base flow.
GPS deformation: Indicates slow subsidence towards the center of the volcano.
Magma flow: Eruption plume: less or equal to 10 tonnes/s.
Lava flow: 10-30 tonnes/s
Total magma flow: 20-40 tonnes/s

For additional details see: Institute of the Earth Sciences

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 24 April
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 23 April
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 22 April
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 21 April
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page

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Serial No 1,623. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 24 April

Comparative Calm Before Explosive Storm?

A Powerful Earthquake May Strike Iceland

The Plume at Eyjafjallajökull Rises to a Height of about 7,000m Sporadically, Idling Mostly at 4,000m

Fire Earth Moderators believe the volcano is spewing more ash than it did 2-3 days ago, despite the local reports.

Webcam at Valahnúk. Image recorded at 13:15UTC on April 24, 2010. Click Image to enlarge.

Hvolsvelli View [best image available all day from the webcam. Reduced visibility caused  by volcanic ash, fumes, dust and clouds.]

Icelandic mat office said:

Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland -Update on activity
Little changes – 24 April 2010 11:15

Volcanic tremor has been similar as the last 2-3 days.
Ash fall may be expected to the west and northwest from the eruption, minor in the Reykjavik area.
Water level in Markarfljót river is slightly higher than yesterday.

The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, Media team, released the following bulletin earlier today:

News Release, 24 April 2010, 06:30

According to the Hvolsvöllur police, this was a quiet night. A little ash has fallen on Hvolsvöllur, and it is visible as a very fine dust on cars. The Weather Bureau expects strong winds from the northeast and the east along the southern coast, elsehwhere the winds will be softer and there will not be much precipitation. The ashen mist will probably move to the west and the northwest of the volcano, even reaching Reykjavík, but only in slight quantities

In a news release from the Chief Epidemiologist yesterday, it appears that wen ash mist occurs, or an increase in suspended particulates in the atmosphere, those who suffer from a dormant heart og lung disease are advised to remain indoors, but there is no call for using masks. It is expected that the eruption-related suspended particulates pollution in the capital area might be close to a similar pollution caused by traffic, and the warnings issued by health authorities will be in accordance with such pollution. The public should keep track of news and information and instruction on the websites of the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, http://www.almannavarnir.is, and of the Environment Agency, http://www.ust.is .

According to information from the airports, air traffic is limited to and from Keflavík, Reykjavík and Akureyri at the moment. No IFR-permissions are issued for Akureyri Airport, but the Egilsstaðir Airport is open to all flight traffic. Further information will be released later this morning.

The information centre for the media at Hvolsvöllur (tel. 847-4846) will remain open during he week-end. A press representative will be there, but there will be no meeting with specialists at 8 am. On the other hand, such meetings will be held at the information centre in Skógarhlíð from 08:00 til 09:00 am, Saturday and Sunday. Today, geophysicist Sigurlaug Hjaltadóttir, from Iceland Weather Bureau, Árni Snorrason, director of the Weather Bureau, and Árni Birgisson, director of the airport and guiding dept. of  Isavia, will answer questions conveyed by the media and press agents.

Detailed Map of eruption Site [The Institute of Earth Science Nordic Volcanological Center]

Click on image to get larger map (pdf-file)
Prepared by: Ásta Rut Hjartardóttir (astahj@hi.is), Páll Einarsson (palli@hi.is)

See also

• MISR images.
• Eyjafjallajokull Volcano: ASTER data
  

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 23 April
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 22 April
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 21 April
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page

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Eyjafjallajokull Volcano: ASTER data

ASTER data of Eyjafjallajokull Volcano

The following data have been acquired by the ASTER instrument on the NASA Terra satellite, and posted on Internet by University of Pittsburgh volcanologist Michael Ramsey. The data were collected both day and night. ASTER acquires data in the visible/near infrared (VNIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) during day time overpasses and in the TIR at night. The VNIR images are at 15 m/pixel resolution and the TIR are 90 m/pixel (each image covers approximately 60 km by 60 km).

• [01 Apr 2010] – Night time thermal infrared temperature image 173 kb

• [17 Apr 2010] – Night time thermal infrared temperature image (250 KB)

• [19 Apr 2010] –  Day time thermal infrared temperature image (256 KB)

• [19 Apr 2010] – Day time visible/near infrared image (13.5 MB)

• [19 Apr 2010] –  Simulated true color day time image with TIR “hotspots” overlain (1.5 MB) processed by K. Duda, LP-DAAC

• [19 Apr 2010] –  Day time plume compositional image derived from the thermal infrared data (10.8 MB)

Eyjafjallajokull Eruption Day time visible/near infrared image (13.5 MB) dated April 19, 2010.

• See also MISR images.
  

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 23 April
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 22 April
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 21 April
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page

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Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 23 April

Ash Fall from Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Closes Icelandic Airports

Iceland’s Keflavík International Airport was closed earlier today due to volcanic ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull eruption.

The wind direction had reportedly changed pushing the ash cloud in southern Iceland in a southwesterly  direction; however,  little or no ash fall was forecast in the capital Reykjavik, Icelandic Review reported.

The closure of Keflavík airport was expected to affect all international flights to and from Iceland.

Webcam views of Eyjafjallajökull eruption recorded at 11:40UTC on April 23, 2010 – Click images to enlarge

Hvolsvelli View

Thórólfsfelli (Þórólfsfelli) View

The Institute of Earth Science Nordic Volcanological Center

Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull

Eruption update 22 April
Similar situation as yesterday (see 21 April report)

Seismic tremor recorded by the Icelandic Meteorological Office: Some fluctuations, with a peak shortly after midnight 22 April related to a small flood of meltwater. Since the onset of the explosive eruption the tremor has overall been gradually increasing, with superimposed fluctuations.

Visual observations yesterday: Regular explosions at intervals of few minutes were observed in afternoon, with fluctuations in intensity and tephra content. Previous entries …

The following two images are from Frettabldid-Island and may be subject to copyright.

Electric Eyjafjallajokull


Prime Real Estate

Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland – Current events Report by Icelandic Met Office

Status as of:  23 April 2010 10:45(UTC)

Volcanic tremor has been similar the last 24 hours. GPS stations around Eyjafjallajökull showed deflation associated with the eruption.

The plume could be seen on IMO’s radar till 04:00. This morning it rose up to 16.000 feet, ca 4.8 km, and ash is blowing towards west.

Water in Markarfljot river increased slightly yesterday, probably due to continuous flow from the eruption area (Gigjökull).

Eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland as seen by RADARSAT-2 (Canadian Space Agency)

Left: RADARSAT-2 image of April 9 – RADARSAT-2 Multi-Look Fine, beam 4 – April 9, 2010, 07:34 :48 UTC, Descending orbit – Nominal resolution: 8 m.
Right: RADARSAT-2 image of April 20 – RADARSAT-2 Extended High, beam 4 – April 20, 2010, 07:13 :53 UTC, Descending orbit -Nominal resolution: 25 m.
Click image to enlarge.

Image Notes and Observations:

• New volcano craters are evident on April 20 image (Right).
• Glacial lake on the north slope of the volcano is now filled with volcanic sediments.
• Local drainage network is swamped by the melt water.
• The radar backscatter has changed drastically, probably caused by the melted ice and by the presence of ash and dust on the ice.
• Agricultural land on the south slope of the volcano covered by volcanic ash and debris.
• The wavelength used by RADARSAT-2 is only slightly affected by the  ash and airborne particles.
• For larger images click here

Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management – Media team

News Release: # 22 – April 23, 2010, 06:30(UTC)

A little after midnight, the volcanic cloud became quite dark, according to the police, and the wind turned during the night.

The Weather Bureau expects southeasterly winds today, and the wind force will gradually increase. An ashen mist is expected towards the north-east of the volcano, and small quantities of ash might even reach Reykjavík. The terms “ashen mist” refer to a view impaired by the ash, according to the Weather Bureau. Some ash is falling in the direction of Fljótshlíð and will continue to do so in a northwesterly direction from the volcano.

Flights to and from the airports of Keflavík and Reykjavík are being cancelled and travellers are requested to follow the news and the websites of the flight operators and Keflavík Airport.

According to the police at Hvolsvöllur, no traffic is permitted in the vicinity of the volcano. The area closed to traffic encompasses the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, its slopes, the Fimmvörðuháls pass and Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Please respect these restrictions.

Related Links:

• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 21 April
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page

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Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 22 April

Volcanic tremors continue unabated, Eyjafjallajökull ash plume stays low

The explosive activity at Eyjafjallajökull is less vigorous, with only one of two main craters in the summit caldera remaining active.

Webcam views of Eyjafjallajökull eruption recorded at 15:23UTC on April 22, 2010 – Click images to enlarge

Hvolsvelli View

Thórólfsfelli (Þórólfsfelli) View

“Eruption rate is inferred to have declined over last few days and now be an order of magnitude smaller than during the initial 72 hours of the eruption. Present eruption rate is estimated to less than 30 m3/s of magma, or 75 tonnes/s , with a large uncertainty.” The Institute of Earth Science Nordic Volcanological Center said.

The eruptive style was reported as: “Phreatomatic explosive activity” with “lava spatter” at the summit craters, with the plume height reaching 3,000 m asl.

Seismic tremor showed some fluctuations but remained mostly stable, said the Icelandic Meteorological Office. “Tremor is not decreasing and does not reflect the decline as inferred from the eruption rate.”

Freeze frame from a video of Eyjafjallajökull Eruption shot by Icelandic Coast Guard.

The Institute of Earth Science Nordic Volcanological Center said:

Tephra dispersal: local towards the south

Meltwater: minor, but what is melted flows down into Markarfljót, no signs of water accumulation in craters

GPS-measurements: indicate continuing small pressure decrease under the volcano at a similar rate.

Composition of erupted material: Samples collected April 19 show same composition as early in the explosive phase, but fluorine content is higher. Samples collected 19 April have 850 mg/kg (initially it was 25-35 mg/kg). This is due to the change in eruptive style – tephra is now not washed to the same extent by water in the eruptive plume.

Amount of erupted material: Uncertain but on the order of 100 millon cubic meters. Tephra next to craters is 20-30 m thick.

Iceland’s Civil Protection Office confirmed that the ash emissions had been considerably reduced. “The volcanic cloud is quite low and not visible on radars. The ash is not expected to reach an altitude of 20.000 feet (6 – 7 km) for the nex few days. The ashes will continue falling on the area south and south-east of the glacier today, yet the wind will turn and blow from the north-easterly today, and the ashes will start falling to the south-west tonight. The wind is expected to be mild. That, and a lessened ash emission, will cause the ashes to fall near the eruption site. There is no cause to believe that the ashes will fall on the south-western regions of Iceland.”

Relate Links:

• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt
• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 21 April
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page

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Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE 21 April

Eyjafjallajökull Rumbling, Churning out Magma

Eyjafjallajökull has entered a Strombolian-like phase of explosive of  activity, producing magma splatters, but less ash and smoke than the previous days.The plume, however, is till rising to a height of about 3,500m.

The magma in Eyjafjallajökull cauldron seems to be more viscous  than in its neighboring Fimmvörðuháls fissure,  the Icelandic  Met Office reported, adding that the interaction of magma with ice and melt water had decreased.

Icelandic Met Office:  Update on activity
Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
Current events
Deflation – 20 April 2010 13:30 [22:30UTC]

Latest available results from GPS stations around Eyjafjallajökull showed deflation associated with the eruption. This suggested that the volume of eruptive material which has been ejected already, relieves pressure off the volcano.

No movements associated with the Katla volcano are presently observed. END

Thórólfsfelli (Þórólfsfelli) View

Hvolsvelli View

Valahnúk View

Latest webcam images of Eyjafjallajökull show the volcano is still petty much active. Frames frozen at 08:42UTC on April 21, 2010. Click images to enlarge.

There is no sign of lava flow as yet, but the situation could change rapidly.

“It seems that the ice cauldrons over the eruption site have coalesced to form a larger cauldron. In spite of magma splatters, no lava flow has been detected yet.”

“Heavy sound blasts have been heard and found near Eyjafjallajökull, especially south and east of the mountain. The viscosity of the magma from Eyjafjallajökull is higher than on Fimmvörðuháls and this enhances the explosive sound effect which can be heard over long distances.” it said.

Nearly all of the European airports have now reopened, however, the travel chaos with an unprecedented backlog of about 100,000 flight cancellations continues. The 6-day flight ban has cost the airlines more than one billion dollars. The actual cost to the unsustainable economies of Europe may be even larger.

Eldgosið í Fimmvörðuhálsi var undanfari eldgossins í Eyjafjallajökli. Árni Sæberg. Source: MBL-Island. Image may be subject to copyright.

A Silver Lining to the Ash Cloud?

University students in Britain have estimated the amount of carbon dioxide released by  Eyjafjallajökull Eruption  at 150,000 metric tons per day. The figure compares with 510,000 tons of CO2 per day emitted as a result of the planes flying normally over Europe. Their estimates seem to imply a ‘saving’ of 360,000 tons of CO2 per day as a result of the flight restriction over Europe. Source:  Reuters report.

ASTER on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired the above image at 1:50 p.m. local time on April 19. The image shows both the eruption plume and the heat signature of lava at the volcano’s summit and at nearby Fimmvörduháls fissure. Source: NASA. Click image to enlarge.

Latest Videos

• EyjafjallajökullEruption video by Ómar Ragnarsson [Latest available video]

Related Links

• How many are up there polluting our skies?
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption: Flight Ban Lifted
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page
• “Thank God men cannot as yet fly and lay waste the sky as well as the earth!”

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Eyjafjallajökull Eruption: Flight Ban Lifted

How Prepared Are YOU for a Major Disaster?

Eyjafjallajokull volcano is producing more lava, ash plume smaller:  Icelandic Scientists

Eyjafjallajökull Activity Easing for Now: Europe’s skies are open, but there are too many stranded passengers to deal with

Here’s a summary of what’s happening in Europe right now:

Flight bans are lifted in Europe after nearly a week of restrictions caused by volcanic ash clouds drifting from Eyjafjallajökull glacial volcano.

Since last Thursday, April 15, some 100,000 flights from and to European destinations were canceled, stranding an estimated 18 million passengers worldwide, most of them in Europe. The cancellations came into effect a day after Eyjafjallajökull erupted, ejecting massive plumes of ash into the air, which drifted towards UK and rest of Europe.

Scale of disruption to the flights over Europe April 21, 2010. Image sourced from BBC World News, and may be subject to copyright. See Fire-Earth Fair Use Notice for details. Click image to enlarge.

From “NO Tolerance” to “Tolerance” in a few threats

The UK Met Office, which is the North-west European Volcanic Ash Advisory Center with responsibility for issuing the Volcanic Ash Advisories for volcanoes erupting in that area, had previously said that it would support decision-making by the UK’s National Air Traffic Service (NATS), the country’s Civil Aviation Authority (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 in a statement.

So the Airports and airlines went knocking angrily on the plane manufacturers doors:

“The major barrier to resuming flight has been understanding tolerance levels of aircraft to ash,” the CAA said in a statement

“Manufacturers have now agreed increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas.”

“Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, who made the initial announcement, denied the decision to reopen airspace was the result of pressure from the airline industry.” BBC reported.

“The issue at stake here has been the assessment of the safety authorities as to what is the safe way in which planes can fly when there is a presence of ash.” He said.

“The fact which has changed in the last week is we have had a volcanic eruption and having to assess safe levels of ash content in the atmosphere within which planes can fly has been an urgent issue which the safety authorities have had to deal with.”

The fact that some of the airplanes may fall out of the sky in 3 months time, without anyone revealing what exactly caused the crash(s) is entirely irrelevant to his Lordship’s falsity.

“This solution has been reached as a result of the close working between the government, the Civil Aviation Authority, airlines and the manufacturers, and will allow the thousands of UK citizens stranded abroad to return home to their families.” The UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said. [The safety of passengers has never been a paramount issue.]

“We will of course continue to monitor the situation closely; as we have said throughout safety is our primary concern,” he added. [You mean when when a BA plane crashes? More likely, you’d probably help cover up what caused it, if that happened.]

DO NOT FLY PLANES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO VOLCANIC ASH!

How Prepared Are YOU for a Major Disaster? More on this later.

Related Links:

• EyjafjallajökullEruption video by Ómar Ragnarsson [Latest available video]
• “Thank God men cannot as yet fly and lay waste the sky as well as the earth!”
• How many are up there polluting our skies?
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page

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Eyjafjallajökull Erupting – UPDATE: 20 Apr

Considerable volcanic activity is occurring at three separate craters at Eyjafjallajökull, with explosions heard continually

Plume of ash is reaching a height of about 6,000m asl. The ash is accumulating around the edge of the craters and is beginning to form a rim. Lava splatters were earlier ejected to a height of about 3 km this morning.

The visibility in the vicinity of Eyjafjoll and at Asolfsskali var was reported at 500 meters, about two hours ago (~ 07:00UTC).

“There is no risk of flash floods because the water is continuously flowing off the glacier.” Local experts said.

Iceland Met Office  (IMO) – Update on activity
Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
Sound blasts – 20 April 2010 at 12:30(UTC)

Heavy sound blasts have been heard and found near Eyjafjallajökull, especially south and east of the mountain, and more clearly after wind speeds became lower. Possible explanation: Very hot gases rise from the eruptive channel. When surfaced, the temperature of the gases drops sharply with abrupt changes in pressure. These result in shock- and sound waves which can be carried long distances in air. END.

Volcanic Ash Drift from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull Eruption

This image uses infrared data from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite to generate a false colour composite image. This presents information about the infrared radiation being emitted by the ash plume, and by surrounding clouds, at several different wavelengths. Because cloud particles and volcanic ash particles interact with the infrared radiation in different ways, they show up as different colours when the data are presented in this way (but it is important to note that these are false colour images, and the colours do not correspond to the actual colours that would be seen by the human eye). Please refer to the forecaster blog to read the latest information regarding the evolution of the plume. Caption: UK Met Office

How Bad is the Ash Drift in the UK?

A spokesman for UK’s National Air Traffic Service (NATS) said: “The volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and a new ash cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK. This demonstrates the dynamic and rapidly changing conditions in which we are working.  Latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation is worsening in some areas.”

Latest Eruption Images from the Webcams – Click images to enlarge

Eyjafjallajökull seen from Hvolsvelli

Eyjafjallajökull seen from Thórólfsfelli

Eyjafjallajökull seen from Valahnúk

Image of Ash from Eyjafjallajökull by NASA’s MODIS

Large plume of ash and fumes is seen spewing out of the volcano’s craters.

Eyjafjallajökull Captured by ALI on NASA’s EO-1 satellite

Download large image (2 MB, JPEG)

Ash Drift Graphics Issued by Volcanic Ash Advisory London, UK

Animation of an Advisory Chart

This is an illustration of volcanic ash dispersion up to 20,000 ft, issued at 7 am (06:00UTC) on 20 April. Advisory charts are issued every six hours, for up to 18 hours ahead, by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center, London, UK.

Polar Orbiter Imagery

These images show the progression of the main volcanic ash plume from Eyjafjallajökull on April 15, as detected using data from polar orbiting satellites operated by NOAA and EUMETSAT. As with the MSG images, these make use of the varying properties of the ash particles at different wavelengths. The ash cloud signal is yellow and orange in this sequence. The early images are able to detect only a very narrow section of plume close to the Icelandic coast, mainly because of the presence of higher-level ice clouds which are obscuring much of the ash below. Succeeding images show the ash plume developing more clearly as it spreads eastwards. Caption: UK Met Office.

Cross-Sectional Diagrammatic Representation of What Eyjafjallajökull and Katla might look like

For more information email Páll Einarsson (palli@raunvis.hi.is)

Insight into the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull from GPS data – Sigrún Hreinsdóttir and Þóra Árnadóttir [Source: Institute of Earth Sciences- NVC]

20. April 2010: Latest results from GPS stations around Eyjafjallajökull show deflation associated with the eruption. No movements associated with the Katla volcano are presently observed – Benedikt Ófeigsson and Bryndís Brandsdóttir

In the first two days of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano summit eruption (14. April), two GPS stations located north (STE2) and south (THEY) of the summit crater moved rapidly toward the eruption site (about 6 cm contraction between stations). Modeling of the GPS data suggest deformation due to a volume change of a shallow magma source (1 km depth). This is consistent with chemical analysis of the magma erupted, intermediate chemical composition (58 wt% silica) (Níels Óskarsson). The volume decrease estimated from the GPS data (3-10 million cupic m) is however only a small portion of the volume estimated to have erupted in the first few days (Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson et al.). GPS stations around Eyjafjallajokull volcano (http://notendur.hi.is/runa/eyja_gps.html) show continued deflation of the region, but now at a much slower rate at the stations closest to the summit. This could indicate continued deflation of another and deeper magma source.

Volume of erupted material and magma discharge for the first 72 hours

The Institute of Earth Sciences has now made a preliminary estimate of erupted material in the first three days of the eruption at Eyjafjallajökull. The erupted products are fragmented material, the majority fine-grained airborne tephra. Eruptive products can be split into three categories:
1. Material (tephra) in the ice cauldrons around the volcanic vents.
2. Tephra filling the glacial lagoon of Gígjökulslón, carried by floods down the outlet glacier Gígjökull.
3. Airborne tephra that has been carried to the east and south of the volcano (see memo by Thorvaldur Thordarson, Guðrún Larsen and Ármann Höskuldsson, pdf-file)

The preliminary results are as follows:
Tephra in ice cauldrons 30 Million m³
Tephra in Gígjökull lagoon 10 Million m³
Tephra fallout from eruption plume 100 Million m³
Total: 140 Million m³

The tephra is uncompacted, these values corresponds to some 70-80 Million m³ of magma. The average magma discharge rate is about 300 m³/s or 750 tonnes/s.
This is 10-20 times the averge discharge rate in the preceeding flank eruption at Fimmvörðuháls.

Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson; Þorvaldur Þórðarson; Guðrún Larsen; Ármann Höskuldsson; Þórdís Högnadóttir; Eyjólfur Magnússon
[Source: Institute of Earth Sciences- NVC]

How fine is the ash?

After the ashfall in the 14-16 April eruption, the Environment Agency collected samples  from Mýrdalssandur (50 km away from the eruption site), which were then  analyzed by Institute of Earth Sciences . The ash had a high fluorine content and was fine grained in the follows composition:

• 24% of the sample was smaller than 10 μm (aerosol)
• 33% of the sample measured 10-50 μm
• 20% of the sample measured  50-146 μm
• 23% of the sample measured 146-294 μm
• Source: IMO

Related Links:

• Additional Images I
• Additional Images II

• Radar observations at the Eyjafjallajöklull eruption site 15 – 19 Apríl 2010 – Eyjólfur Magnússon (pdf-file)
• Report on magma chemistry– Preliminary interpretations of chemical analysis of tephra from Eyjafjallajökull volcano – Olgeir Sigmarsson et.al (pdf-file)

• Iceland’s Bárdarbunga May Be Erupting
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Links Page [Links to all blog entries about Eyjafjallajökull and other resources]

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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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Eyjafjallajökull Volcano Cauldron – Satellite Images

Eyjafjallajökull Volcano Cauldron and Ash Plume  Seen in NASA Satellite Images

Visible (left) and infrared (right) images of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano, acquired April 17, 2010, from the Hyperion instrument onboard NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) spacecraft. Image credit: NASA/JPL/EO-1 Mission/GSFC/Ashley Davies

• Larger view of visible image JPG (500Kb)
• Larger view of infrared image JPG (1Mb)

In the left-hand image, created from visible wavelengths, new black ash deposits are visible on the ground, as well as nearby brilliant unsullied ice and snow and the volcano’s brown, billowing plume. The plume’s dark color reflects its large ash content. These fine particles of pulverized rock are carried high into the atmosphere, where they create a hazard for aviation and are carried long distances by the prevailing winds.

In contrast, the false-color, infrared image at the right reveals the intense thermal emissions (at least 60 megawatts, or 60 million watts) emanating from the vent at the base of the massive plume. This thermal emission, equivalent to the energy consumption of 60,000 homes, represents only a small proportion of the total energy being released by the volcano as its molten lava interacts violently with ice and water. Each image covers an area measuring 7.7 kilometers (4.8 miles) wide, and has a resolution of 30 meters (98 feet) per pixel. The vertical direction is north-northeast. Images and Caption: NASA [Edited for brevity.]

Related Links:

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Satellite Images
Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE Apr 18 [Other links to Eyjafjallajökull are found on this page]

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Lift Volcanic Ash Flight Ban—Multinationals

Sacrificing Sanity for Money

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Status:

• Currently erupting with the ash plume reaching a height of about 7.5km
• A large pocket of ash is drifting toward Europe

Volcanic Ash Advisory from London Met Office – Issued graphics – Received at 06:36GMT on 19 April 2010

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

Latest updates and advisories from UK Met Office –

Last updated: 20:26GMT on Sunday, 18 April 2010

… because of the worsening volcanic activity UK airspace has now been closed until 7am Monday.

The Eyjafjallajökull volcano is still erupting and weather patterns continue to blow volcanic ash towards the UK. Over the weekend, Met Office observations have detected dust in the atmosphere and on the ground. A research aircraft has recently encountered dust during its flight, albeit in fairly low concentrations

Decisions on flights and airline movement is controlled by National Air Traffic Services (NATS).

We will continue to produce forecasts of the ash cloud and will assess the impact into the week in consultations with CAA and NATS.

“We’re losing money, besides our test flights didn’t fall out of the sky.”

Europe’s air industry as well as a large number of international corporation have demanded an urgent removal of flight bans imposed because of ash from Eyjafjallajökull volcano.

Siding with the corporate paymasters, EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas is on record as saying that the “unprecedented situation” was “not sustainable” and that European authorities were working to find a solution.

“We cannot just wait until this ash cloud dissipates,” Siim Kallas was reported as saying.

Airspaces in 21 European countries were closed or partially closed as of posting.

According to the International Airports Council, ACI, about 313 airports had been completely or partially shut down because of the no-fly ban with an international  backlog of 63,000 canceled flights representing just under 7 million air travelers [Fir earth estimates are 78,000 flight and 14 million passengers.]

The airports are hit by a double whammy because they no longer just places where planes take off and land; they are colossal shopping malls, targeting the air travelers. On a per passenger basis, the airports are making more money than the airlines. [In case you ever wondered why you have to go to the airport 3-6 hours before your flight and walk 12 km to board the plane…]

Why is volcanic ash do dangerous?

Volcanic ash is composed of small tephra, or tiny bits of pulverized glass and rock that are created by volcanic eruptions. The particles are usually accompanied by several gases including sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is mixed with water in the air and converted into droplets of sulfuric acid and other substances that are harmful to the plane. Volcanic ash is potentially deadly to aircraft and their passengers. It poses three types of danger to aircraft by way of:

• Clogging the engine and causing engine failure
  • Clogging the fuel and cooling systems
  • Melting in the hot parts of the engine, and fusing on engine components thereby causing loss of engine thrust that could lead into a flame out, shutting down the engine
  • Breaking the blades and other sensitive components inside the turbine
• Causing physical damage to various parts of the plane including abrasion of engine parts, the airframe, as well as control and steering mechanism
• Reducing visibility

What about the test flights?

Dutch and German airlines as well as British Airways have carried out “test flight” within the no-fly zone at altitudes of about 30,000ft (9.1km) on Saturday and Sunday, apparently without any visible damage to the planes.

The most obvious dangers of such recklessness are that the concentration of airborne ash particles is neither uniform, nor constant. The impact of ash on the plane may vary depending on several factors including continued activity at the volcano, which produces more ash as the time goes by, wind pasterns and others.

High concentrations of ash may exists in air pockets that the previous test flights avoided, or changing wind patterns could increase the concentration of ash in an air route within minutes.

Airlines are desperate because, in addition to losing money for each flight canceled [they claim the ban is costing them $200million each day,] their stock values are taking a nosedive, too. In fact some of the major carriers could lose by as much as 10 percent of their share values by Tuesday.

Why Airlines Might Prefer Crashing their Planes…

Do airlines prefer crashing their planes, rather than having them idle on the airport tarmacs? The arithmetic is simple: If an airline crashes a plane, insurance will pay.  If the planes sits on the tarmac, they lose money.

Countries that have been impacted

The Airspace in the following countries are fully closed:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, UK

Airspace partially closed:
Italy (northern airspace closed until Monday); Norway (2 -3 airports closed); Bulgaria (only a few airports are open); Poland (half dozen airports, including Warsaw, are open); Sweden (northern airports are now open); France (southern airports have now opened)

NO airspace restriction:
Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine

Carriers that have canceled flights to Europe on Monday:

China Airlines of Taiwan, Cathay Pacific,  Japan Airlines, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Thai Airways and Korean Air.

Related Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE Apr 18

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Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE Apr 18

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Intensifying

Fire-Earth can confirm that  the eruption at Eyjafjallajökull is intensifying with ash plume rising to a height of about 10km.

The sun turns dark: Eyjafjallajökull through Valahnúk Webcam at 07:30UTC

The eruption at Eyjafjallajökull has almost completely darkened the sky. Click image to enlarge.

Note: The Eyjafjallajökull Hvolsvelli Webcam was not operating properly, as of posting.

How Long Will Eyjafjallajökull Erupt

There is absolutely no reason why the explosive  activity at Eyjafjallajökull couldn’t go on for days, weeks even months. Not only Eyjafjallajökull could follow the “Chaitén pattern” and even trigger other, larger volcanoes like Kata to erupt. Indeed, there’s historic precedence for the latter scenario.

Iceland’s Meteorological Office agrees with Fire-Earth assessment.

“The eruption could go on like that for a long time,” geophysicist Bergthora Thorbjarnardottir at the Meteorological Office said.

© Veðurstofa Íslands

Maps of Volcanic Ash in the Atmosphere

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

UKMET: Update to Volcanic Ash Plume — 0851 on Sunday 18 April 2010

“Satellite imagery Sunday morning shows an active volcanic plume spreading ash southwards and southeastwards from southern Iceland. Remnants of earlier plume activity over Europe much less evident now on derived dust imagery. Recent information from the Icelandic Met Office suggests the volcano is currently erupting ash to a height of approximately 4km. Issued at 0850 on Sun 18 Apr 2010.”

Where is the volcanic ash moving?

A diagrammatic  illustration of volcanic ash dispersion up to 20,000 ft, issued at 7 pm on 17 April. Advisory charts are issued every six hours, for up to 18 hours ahead, by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center. Source: UK Met Office.

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

‘Chaos’ as the volcanic ash from Iceland continues to move into Europe’s airspace

About 60,000 flight will have been canceled by Sunday evening (UTC) with an estimated 12 million air travelers stranded since Thursday.

Desperate Airlines ‘Daredevil Management’ May Well End in DISASTER

About 20 countries have closed their airspaces until late Sunday, some into Monday, leaving millions of passengers globally as ash clouds from Eyjafjallajökull eruption linger on in Europe’s airspace.

Dutch and German airlines have reportedly carried out test flights, apparently without any damage to the planes. The most obvious dangers of such recklessness are the facts that the concentration of airborne ash particles is neither uniform, nor constant. High concentration of ash may exists in air pockets that the test flights avoided, or changing wind patterns could increase the concentration of ash in an air route within minutes.

In fact the weather reports say the Icelandic ash concentration in the upper atmosphere may become more concentrated through Wednesday.

Airlines are desperate because, in addition to losing money for each flight canceled, their stock values are taking a nosedive, too. In fact some of the major carriers could lose by as much as 10 percent of their share values by Tuesday.

Why is volcanic ash so dangerous?

Volcanic ash is composed of small tephra, or tiny bits of pulverized glass and rock that are created by volcanic eruptions. The particles are usually accompanied by several gases including sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is mixed with water in the air and converted into droplets of sulfuric acid and other substances that are harmful to the plane. Volcanic ash is potentially deadly to aircraft and their passengers. It poses three types of danger to aircraft by way of:

• Clogging the engine and causing engine failure
  • Clogging the fuel and cooling systems
  • Melting in the hot parts of the engine, and fusing on engine components thereby causing loss of engine thrust that could lead into a flame out, shutting down the engine
  • Breaking the blades and other sensitive components inside the turbine
• Causing physical damage to various parts of the plane including abrasion of engine parts, the airframe, as well as control and steering mechanism
• Reducing visibility

Few Facts about Icelandic Volcanoes

• Iceland is home to about 130 volcanoes, 18 of which have erupted since about 1,000 years ago.
• Eruption from Iceland’s volcanoes have produced more than 30 percent of the total lava output globally, since the 1500s.
• The Laki eruption in 1783-1784 produced he largest volume of lava in the last 500 years.
• An eruption of Eldgjá in 934 CE produced twice as much lava as did Laki.

Explosion at Laki (Lakagigar) Volcanic fissure

A destructive eruption at Laki volcano, which occurred over an 8-month period in 1783–1784, ejected about 14 cubic km (3.4 cu mi) of basalt lava and plumes of poisonous hydrofluoric acid and sulfur-dioxide gas that lead to a famine in Iceland. About a quarter of the population and half of all livestock perished. Dust clouds covered most of Europe and parts of Eurasia and Africa for a year.

For all previous entries and and related links click

• Eyjafjallajökull – UPDATE Apr 17

See also

• Ragnarök [the End of the World]
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Intensifies
• Eruption Video April 17, 2010
• 2010 Year of Super Volcanoes?

Flight disruptions

• The latest status of disruptions in 28 countries across the continent

Serial No 1,589. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Intensifies

Webcams Show Heightened Activity

Eruption at Eyjafjallajökull has steadily Intensified in the past 3 hours

Eyjafjallajökull has resumed explosive activity in the past 3 hours, having earlier slowed down to sporadically ejecting single plumes of ash once every 2 to 3 minutes.

The following are latest images obtained from two webcams that are trained on Eyjafjallajökull at Valahnúk and Hvolsvelli stations. The images show a constant stream of ash, steam and fumes spewed from the Icelandic volcano.The images are provided by Míla ehf and may be subject to copyright.

Valahnúk Webcam freeze frame of Eyjafjallajökull at 08:55UTC .

Hvolsvelli Webcam Image of Eyjafjallajokull also recorded at 08:55UTC.

The following irregular sequence of images were recorded from Hvolsvelli Webcam.

[L-R and T-B] Freeze frames shows a large plume of ash, steam and gasses ejected from the volcano just after sunrise at 5;16UTC on April 17, 2010. The ash plume seen in the first frame above dispersed (second frame) within minutes of being ejected from Eyjafjallajokull; however, after a series of explosions that occurred about 30 seconds later, another plume was ejected out of the volcano’s crater. The new plume seemed to be slightly larger than the previous one. Click image to enlarge.

Another sequence of images recorded simultaneously from Hvolsvelli and Valahnúk Webcams.

[T – B] The above freeze frames were recorded at about 5:31UTC, showing single plumes of ash and gasses ejected from Eyjafjallajokul. Click image to enlarge.

[T – B] The above freeze frames were recorded at about 5:35UTC. Most of the frames show two plumes, indicating a gradual increase in the frequency of eruptions at Eyjafjallajokul. Click image to enlarge.

This frame was recorded at 5:40UTC showing 3 plumes which meant the eruptions at Eyjafjallajokul had further intensified. Click image to enlarge.

• For previous updates and various related links click Eyjafjallajökull – UPDATE Apr 17
• Eruption Video April 17, 2010

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Eyjafjallajökull – UPDATE Apr 17

Eyjafjallajökull Still Erupting

40,000 flights grounded since Thursday to avoid engine failure from Eyjafjallajökull ash

A new round of flooding has affected the areas around Eyjafjallajokull, as hot gases from the volcano continue to break up and melt the glacier that covers it.

Huge volumes of floodwater and massive chunks of ice, some reportedly as large as 3-story apartment blocks, have forced about 1,000 locals to evacuate their homes, most of them for a second time in 3 days. The floodwaters have almost completely washed off a causeway along the flooded Markarfljot river, which was severely damaged in the first round of flooding.

According to a local report,  the eruption is somewhat weakening, and Eyjafjallajökull is producing less ash, for now.

Sunrise at Eyjafjallajokull

Valahnúk Webcam freeze frame of Eyjafjallajökull shortly after sunrise.

Hvolsvelli Webcam Image of Eyjafjallajokull. Freeze frame shows a large plume of ash, steam and gasses ejected from the volcano just after sunrise at 5;16UTC on April 17, 2010. The ash plume seen above dispersed within minutes of appearing, but about 30 seconds and a series of explosions later, a larger plume was spewed out of the volcano’s crater. See the dramatic sequences in the next update.

Click image to enlarge.

Staff from the Icelandic Meteorological Office flew with the Icelandic Coast Guard to the Eyjafjallajökull eruption site on the afternoon of April 16th 2010. At 4 pm the volcanic ash cloud was clearly visible above the cloud deck, rising at times to at least 30,000 feet. Steady winds from the east-north-east moved the cloud away from the volcano. The cloud height was variable from 25 to 30,000 feet and its colour varied from dark to white, depending on how much ash was in the cloud. Credit: Icelandic Met Office. Image may be subject to copyright.

The Surreality Test. Credit: Jónas Erlendsson via MBL-Is. Image may be subject to copyright.

The above photo shows the outlet glacier, which is dark at the top due to mud from the flash floods. At the base the glacier flows to the right of a large cracked rock.Credit: Icelandic Met Office. Image may be subject to copyright.  More Photos…

A diagrammatic  illustration of volcanic ash dispersion up to 20,000 ft, issued at 7 pm on 16 April. Advisory charts are issued every six hours, for up to 18 hours ahead, by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center. Source: UK Met Office.

According to the UK Met Office the cloud were moving over northern France and Austria, as well as  eastern and central Russia. © Copyright EUMETSAT/Met Office.

• Initial Ash Drift Satellite Animation

The ash particles range in size from 15 × 20 µm to 70 × 85 µm. (1 µm is a millionth of a meter, or a thousands of a millimeter).

Ash dust particles (at ×400) collected from Aberdeen on the morning of 16 April. These particles are approximately 60 × 70 µm.

Ash dust particles at ×100. Source and Copyright Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Geoengineer This!

Credit: Golli / Kjartan Þorbjörnsson via MBL-Is. Image may be subject to copyright.

What Happend to Disaster Tourism?

The rascals coiled their tails and ran for the coast. Nearby roads covered in a thick blanket of volcanic ash. Credit: Ómar Óskarsson via MBL-Is. Image may be subject to copyright.

Click link for Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Satellite Images

The All Important Pronunciation: ‘Aye-ya fyah-tla jow-kutl

Related Links:

Videos

• Video of causeway destroyed by floodwater from melting glacier

• Video footage of the new volcanic eruption on Eyjafjallajökull glacier in south Iceland and flooding in Markarfljót river is posted here.
• Eruption Footage
• Video by MBL
• Horfa á kvikmyndir frá Hvannárgili [26 march 2010]
• Horfa á kvikmyndir frá Hrunagili [26 march 2010]
• Eruption Caught on Video by Iceland Coast Guard (WMV) – 20 March 2010
• Hrunagil (video)
• Iceland TV RUC

More Photos:

• National Geographic
• Reuters Iceland images
• Iceland’s disruptive volcano

Technical information:

• New map of the lava flow from 21 – 24 March 2010
• Latest Map of volcanic emissions 25 March 2010 (Icelandic)
  

Webcams – Volcanoes in Iceland

• Eyjafjallajökull
  • http://mila.is/um-milu/vefmyndavelar/eyjafjallajokull-fra-hvolsvelli/
  • http://mila.is/um-milu/vefmyndavelar/eyjafjallajokull-fra-thorolfsfelli/
• Hekla: http://www.ruv.is/hekla/
• Katla: http://www.ruv.is/katla/

Latest Images (RUV): http://www.ruv.is/flokkar/hamfarir

Related Headline News

• Photo Shows Eerie Closeness to Volcano, Says Farmer Hit by Flood [April 15, 2010]

• Iceland Eruption Affects Air Traffic in Norway
• Last Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Lasted Two Years [April 14, 2010]
• Awesome Pictures of Flood in South Iceland
  
• Iceland’s PM: Important to Remain Calm
  
• Flood in South Iceland Might Be Subsiding
• Video of New Iceland Eruption and Flood
• Drinking Water Monitored in Iceland’s Westman Islands [April 14, 2010]

• Iceland: New Craters open up. “We saw the Earth open up” [April 3, 2010]
• Icelandic Volcanic Outburst goes 100 Meters into the Air [April 1, 2010]
• Toxic Fumes at Source of Iceland Eruption
• Lava Flow Heads for Idyllic Iceland Valley
• Iceland Lava Flow Changes Channels

Related Sites in Iceland (English)

• Institute of Earth Sciences, Iceland
• Geophysical research at the Icelandic Meteorological Office
• Continuous tremor plots at the Icelandic Meteorological Office
• Earthquake location maps at the Icelandic Meteorological Office

Fire-Earth Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Satellite Images
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE Apr 16
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – 2nd Update Apr 15

• Eyjafjallajökull eruption melts glacier [April 15]
• Eyjafjöll Eruption Update – April 3
• Eyjafjöll Still Erupting
• Eyjafjöll Eruption – Images of the Day

• Eyjafjöll Eruption – LATEST
• Icelandic Volcano Erupts – UPDATE
• Volcano erupts near Eyjafjallajoekull, Iceland
• Icelandic Volcano Erupts – VIDEO UPDATE

• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links
• FEWW Earthquake Links

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Serial No 1,585. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – Satellite Images

Ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull eruption has grounded about 30,000 flights, so far!

Ash from Iceland’s erupting Eyjafjallajökull Volcano had drifted over northern Europe by April 16, 2010. The brown ash is mixed with clouds in this photo-like image taken by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite at 12:45 p.m. local time (GMT/UTC+2) on April 16,2010. The visible ash sweeps in an arc across the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and Russia. Additional ash is most probably masked by clouds. Source: NASA. Click image to enlarge.

• Additional resolutions
• Daily Images
  

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image on April 15, 2010. A volcanic plume blows from Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in southern Iceland toward the east-southeast. The plume’s tan hue indicates a high ash content. Volcanic ash consists of tiny jagged particles of rock which can cause engine failure, if sucked into an airplane’s turbines. Source: NASA. Click image to enlarge.

DLR, TerraSAR-X, via Associated Press

A computer enhanced image of  Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland acquired by the TerraSAR-X satellite on April 16, 2010 (late PM). Image may be subject to copyright. Click image to enlarge.

For the latest Eyjafjallajökull update and links see

• Eyjafjallajökull – UPDATE Apr 17
• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE Apr 16

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Serial No 1,582. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – UPDATE Apr 16

A Time to Reflect!

Much volcanic activity may occur in Iceland during the coming months: Eyjafjallajökull, perhaps Katla, Laki and others … even Jan Mayen their northerly neighbor could kick in keeping more flights grounded

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Has Grounded Flights Across Much of Europe for a Second Day

As the eruption at Eyjafjallajökull volcano continues unabated, more smoke and ash from the glacier-filled volcano in Iceland drifts into Europe’s airspace, affecting up to a million air passengers. The disruption could continue into the weekend and beyond.

A radar image of the three craters emerging from under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier April 16, 2010. Credit: Icelandic Coast Guard

As of posting, up to 8,000 flights have been canceled since a no-fly zone was declared in northern Europe on Thursday.  The airspace from as far west as the Republic of Ireland to Finland and was Western Russia are now closed. The countries that are directly affected and whose airspace have been shut down are: Republic of Ireland, Norway, UK, Netherlands,  Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

Additionally there is a partial or planned no-fly zones currently operating in the northern airspace of three  other countries: France, Germany and Poland.

Volcanic Ash and fumes (dark yellow, mustard and various shades of brown) from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull eruption drift toward NW Europe. Copyright EUMETSAT 2010. Click image to enlarge.

How long Will the Eruption Last?

“It is likely that the production of ash will continue at a comparable level for some days or weeks. But where it disrupts travel, that depends on the weather,” Einar Kjartansson, a geophysicist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told the reporters.

The last time the subglacial volcano erupted, it went on ejecting ash for a period of two years, from 1821 to 1823.

Ash Drifting Very Slowly

In the absence of wind the ash cloud is “progressing very slowly eastwards” and has remained “very dense,” the European air traffic control, Eurocontrol, has said.

“In general, the situation cannot be said to be improving with any certainty,”  the National Air Traffic Service in the UK was quoted as saying.

The European air traffic control organisation, Eurocontrol, said a lack of wind meant the ash cloud created by the volcano underneath Iceland’s Eyjafjallajoekull glacier was “progressing very slowly eastwards” and remained “very dense”.

In addition to the European airlines, at least 5 other long-haul airlines have canceled flights to Europe.

Related Links:

Videos

• Video footage of the new volcanic eruption on Eyjafjallajökull glacier in south Iceland and flooding in Markarfljót river is posted here.
• Eruption Footage
• Video by MBL
• Horfa á kvikmyndir frá Hvannárgili [26 march 2010]
• Horfa á kvikmyndir frá Hrunagili [26 march 2010]
• Eruption Caught on Video by Iceland Coast Guard (WMV) – 20 March 2010
• Hrunagil (video)
• Iceland TV RUC

More Photos:

• National Geographic
• Reuters Iceland images

Technical information:

• New map of the lava flow from 21 – 24 March 2010
• Latest Map of volcanic emissions 25 March 2010 (Icelandic)
  

Webcams – Volcanoes in Iceland

• Eyjafjallajökull
  • http://mila.is/um-milu/vefmyndavelar/eyjafjallajokull-fra-hvolsvelli/
  • http://mila.is/um-milu/vefmyndavelar/eyjafjallajokull-fra-thorolfsfelli/
• Hekla: http://www.ruv.is/hekla/
• Katla: http://www.ruv.is/katla/

Latest Images (RUV): http://www.ruv.is/flokkar/hamfarir

Related Headline News

• Photo Shows Eerie Closeness to Volcano, Says Farmer Hit by Flood [April 15, 2010]

• Iceland Eruption Affects Air Traffic in Norway
• Last Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Lasted Two Years [April 14, 2010]
• Awesome Pictures of Flood in South Iceland
  
• Iceland’s PM: Important to Remain Calm
  
• Flood in South Iceland Might Be Subsiding
• Video of New Iceland Eruption and Flood
• Drinking Water Monitored in Iceland’s Westman Islands [April 14, 2010]

• Iceland: New Craters open up. “We saw the Earth open up” [April 3, 2010]
• Icelandic Volcanic Outburst goes 100 Meters into the Air [April 1, 2010]
• Toxic Fumes at Source of Iceland Eruption
• Lava Flow Heads for Idyllic Iceland Valley
• Iceland Lava Flow Changes Channels

Related Sites in Iceland (English)

• Institute of Earth Sciences, Iceland
• Geophysical research at the Icelandic Meteorological Office
• Continuous tremor plots at the Icelandic Meteorological Office
• Earthquake location maps at the Icelandic Meteorological Office

Fire-Earth Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – 2nd Update Apr 15

• Eyjafjallajökull eruption melts glacier [April 15]
• Eyjafjöll Eruption Update – April 3
• Eyjafjöll Still Erupting
• Eyjafjöll Eruption – Images of the Day

• Eyjafjöll Eruption – LATEST
• Icelandic Volcano Erupts – UPDATE
• Volcano erupts near Eyjafjallajoekull, Iceland
• Icelandic Volcano Erupts – VIDEO UPDATE

• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links
• FEWW Earthquake Links

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Serial No 1,581. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption – 2nd Update Apr 15

Eyjafjallajökull eruption intensifies

Eyjafjallajökull eruption 10 times more powerful than Fimmvörduháls Eruption in March: Iceland volcanologist

The eruption which occurred 200 meter beneath the Eyjafjallajokull glacier has intensified after ejecting a 6.7-km plume of ash and smoke into the air and causing extensive flooding south of Iceland,  volcanologist Armannn Hoskuldsson at University of Iceland  said. He noted that the eruption was 10 times more powerful than the March 20 Fimmvörduháls eruption.

“It’s becoming more intense, but there will be no lava—this is purely an explosive eruption,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

Eruption at Eyjafjallajökull glacier melts Gígjökull  glacial tongue, causing extensive flooding in Markarfljót river, south of Iceland. Credit: Vefbold-Island. Image may be subject to copyright.

Volcanic Ash and Smoke forces cancellation of about 4,500 flights throughout N. Europe

Maps of Ash Drift from Eyjafjallajökull Eruption. Source: RUV Island. Image may be subject to copyright. Click image to enlarge.

A cloud of volcanic ash is seen between Iceland (TOP L) and Scotland, in northern Britain, in this handout satellite photograph taken at 0800 GMT on Thursday, and received from Britain’s Met Office in London on April 15, 2010. Airport operator BAA said on Thursday it expected all flights in and out of London’s Heathrow and Stansted airports to be suspended from 12:00 p.m. due to a cloud of volcanic ash from an eruption in Iceland. The grids and coastlines were superimposed on the photograph by the Met Office. Credit: REUTERS/EUMETSAT/Met Office/Handout.  Click image to enlarge.

Non-Stop Eruption

Eyjafjallajökull has been erupting for more than 24 hours,  disrupting air traffic throughout northern Europe. Britain’s National Air Traffic Service (NATS) declared Britain’s airs pace a no-fly zone. Only emergency flights are allowed in British air space.

The situation is pretty much the same across the region. Airlines have canceled or diverted thousands of flights from Norway, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

Markarfljót river located to the west of Eyjafjallajökull glacier flooded for the second time last night, a local report said, describing the second flood as “completely unlike the first one.”  The earlier floodwater measured about 4 degrees Celsius and was ice free. The second flood, however, was said to have a high ice content with large quantities of ice chunks measuring up to 15 cm thick The latter flood water was also colder than the first measuring degrees Celsius C. The floodwaters have caused extensive damage to roads and bridges.

The ash fall from the eruption has covered thousands of hectares of land to the east of the glacier Iceland’s fifth largest, in a thick blanket of ash.

Up to 800 people have fled their homes or been evacuated by the authorities.

Videos

• Video footage of the new volcanic eruption on Eyjafjallajökull glacier in south Iceland and flooding in Markarfljót river is posted here.
• Eruption Footage
• Video by MBL
• Horfa á kvikmyndir frá Hvannárgili [26 march 2010]
• Horfa á kvikmyndir frá Hrunagili [26 march 2010]
• Eruption Caught on Video by Iceland Coast Guard (WMV) – 20 March 2010
• Hrunagil (video)
• Iceland TV RUC

More Photos:

• National Geographic
• Reuters Iceland images

Technical information:

• New map of the lava flow from 21 – 24 March 2010
• Latest Map of volcanic emissions 25 March 2010 (Icelandic)
  

Webcams – Volcanoes in Iceland

• Eyjafjallajökull
  • http://mila.is/um-milu/vefmyndavelar/eyjafjallajokull-fra-hvolsvelli/
  • http://mila.is/um-milu/vefmyndavelar/eyjafjallajokull-fra-thorolfsfelli/
• Hekla: http://www.ruv.is/hekla/
• Katla: http://www.ruv.is/katla/

Latest Images (RUV): http://www.ruv.is/flokkar/hamfarir

Related Headline News

• Photo Shows Eerie Closeness to Volcano, Says Farmer Hit by Flood [April 15, 2010]

• Iceland Eruption Affects Air Traffic in Norway
• Last Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Lasted Two Years [April 14, 2010]
• Awesome Pictures of Flood in South Iceland
  
• Iceland’s PM: Important to Remain Calm
  
• Flood in South Iceland Might Be Subsiding
• Video of New Iceland Eruption and Flood
• Drinking Water Monitored in Iceland’s Westman Islands [April 14, 2010]

• Iceland: New Craters open up. “We saw the Earth open up” [April 3, 2010]
• Icelandic Volcanic Outburst goes 100 Meters into the Air [April 1, 2010]
• Toxic Fumes at Source of Iceland Eruption
• Lava Flow Heads for Idyllic Iceland Valley
• Iceland Lava Flow Changes Channels

Related Sites in Iceland (English)

• Institute of Earth Sciences, Iceland
• Geophysical research at the Icelandic Meteorological Office
• Continuous tremor plots at the Icelandic Meteorological Office
• Earthquake location maps at the Icelandic Meteorological Office

Fire-Earth Links:

• Eyjafjallajökull eruption melts glacier [April 15]
• Eyjafjöll Eruption Update – April 3
• Eyjafjöll Still Erupting
• Eyjafjöll Eruption – Images of the Day

• Eyjafjöll Eruption – LATEST
• Icelandic Volcano Erupts – UPDATE
• Volcano erupts near Eyjafjallajoekull, Iceland
• Icelandic Volcano Erupts – VIDEO UPDATE

• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links
• FEWW Earthquake Links

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