Iceland Volcano Continues to Spew Lava
Eyjafjallajökull
Eyjafjallajökull is one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland. Only three eruptions are known at Eyjafjallajökull in historical times, one in 920 A.D., another in 1612 AD, and the most recent in 1821. But on March 20, 2010 Eyjafjallajökull exploded back to life.
According to scientists at the Institute of Earth Sciences Nordic Volcanological Center, today the eruption in Eyjafjallajökull has a continuing discharge of meltwater from Gigjokull Glacier due to ice melt caused by the volcano. Booming sounds have been reported as far as 32 km from the eruption site. While ash and steam rise to an elevation of 3.6 km (12,000 ft), ejected lava reached heights of 660 feet. Would we expect anything less from an active stratovolcano?
Scientists are monitoring Eyjafjallajökull with radar observations, GPS measurements, satellite images, seismic monitors, river gauges, aerial observations, and geologist’s inspections of tephra. Tephra is the term for materials of all types and sizes thrown into the air by a volcanic eruption.
April 29 2010 01:03 am | Volcanoes