Fierce Planet

Iceland Volcano Causing Earthquakes

Ash plume from Eyjafjallajökull

Updates from the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Icelandreport that at least 10 earthquakes have been located at Eyjafjallajökull since midnight. Most are less that magnitude 2. Measurements show continued horizontal displacement around Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Explosive activity has increased, and with considerable tephra fallout, the cinder cone continues to build. Dark ash plumes have been observed at hieight of 20,000 – 22,000 feet. Scientists have reported, “everything turned black”. The lava channels are about 30 – 60 m wide. And according to UPI, Iceland’s volcano roared back to life on Thursday. “The eruption has changed back to an explosive eruption, lava has stopped flowing and most of the magma gets scattered due to explosions in the crater,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.

Will more disruptions in air travel occur? Will Eyjafjallajökull volcano return to the eruptive intensity it displayed in April? Scientists continue to say that “there are no signs the eruption is about to end.”

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.