Huge Volcano Eruption in Iceland

[Michael]

http://www.yalibnan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/volcano-eruption-iceland.bmp

REYKJAVIK, Iceland, April 16 (UPI) -- Air travelers in Europe face delays and cancellations at least into Saturday because of the huge plume cloud from a volcano in Iceland.

The eruption of a volcano at the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier, about 75 miles east of Reykjavik, has created a plume of ash and debris about 7 miles high. The volcano had been dormant for about 200 years until an eruption last month but Wednesday's event was much larger.

The ash cloud from the volcano drifted east, affecting air traffic across Europe. Particles in volcanic plumes can cause airplane engines to shut down.

Officials predicted about 17,000 flights would be canceled Friday across the northern tier of Europe. Many international flights into that part of the world were also canceled. Air traffic controllers don't expect conditions to improve enough for safe travel until Saturday.

Scientists said the volcanic eruption appeared to be lessening and some airports in Ireland were reopened by midday Friday.

Officials in Poland, however, voiced concern over how flight restrictions would affect the ability of world leaders to reach the country for Sunday's funeral of President Lech Kaczynski, who died in a plane crash last Saturday. No decision was announced on whether to postpone the ceremonies.

Source (http://www.upi.com/Daily-Briefing/2010/04/16/Iceland-volcano/UPI-91341271421836/)

Wow! Poor Iceland. :eek:

[Americano]

Great photo.

[Americano]

More great photos here (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/icelands_disruptive_volcano.html). Air traffic in Europe is still disrupted from the event.

[andrewl]

If anybody is curious as to the reason why planes are grounded during these events.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta_incident

Not only did the engines cease, but the windshield was completely sandblasted reducing pilot visibility to zero.

Andrew

[andrewl]

Apparently the big concern is Katla, a much larger volcano only miles away from Eyjafjallajökull.

"Icelanders agree. "This could trigger Katla, which is a vicious volcano that could cause both local and global damage," Pall Einarsson, from the University of Iceland, said. Tremors around Eyjafjallajokull were first recorded in early March, but precise prediction of volcanic eruption is difficult, even with the high-tech equipment available to Icelandic geologists.

Now that it has happened the only basis for prediction is history — and that does not look good.

Eyjafjallajokull has blown three times in the past thousand years," Dr McGarvie told The Times, "in 920AD, in 1612 and between 1821 and 1823. Each time it set off Katla." The likelihood of Katla blowing could become clear "in a few weeks or a few months", he said."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7070239.eceAndrew

[Americano]

From another viewpoint the loss of usable air space is reportedly costing the already very shaky airline industry $200-million/day.

[Michael]

From another viewpoint the loss of usable air space is reportedly costing the already very shaky airline industry $200-million/day.

If one follows the mass media on this story, it seems as if that is the ONLY issue they are covering.

[andrewl]

Looking at this image one wonders if this is the first CO2 negative volcano in history?:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/infobeautiful/planes_volcanos.png

[Americano]

If one follows the mass media on this story, it seems as if that is the ONLY issue they are covering.

If the big one does go off they'll really have some big numbers to report.

[Michael]

Note to Iceland: Please come up with more pronounceable names for your geography. :)

The name on this volcano just isn't working out at all!

[Greendruid]

Yeah, even I gave up on this on! You know that it takes a lot for that to happen.

Poor Icelandics (?) Icelanders (?) Ice-people (?). Nature is a marvellous and terrible thing. She knows no soft judgement. Adapt or die - her rules are simple and terrifying.

[andrewl]

Breaking News Banner on MSNBC says that another Volcano "Hekla" has begun erupting. At least that one is pronounceable.

Andrew

[andrewl]

^^^^^^

The story seems to have disappeared and i read somewhere else that it was a false Twitter rumor.... blah.. :shrug:

Andrew

[Americano]

Here's (http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2010/04/14/new-iceland-eruption-confirmed/) confirmation of a new eruption. I won't even attempt the name.

[andrewl]

Here's (http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2010/04/14/new-iceland-eruption-confirmed/) confirmation of a new eruption. I won't even attempt the name.

That article is old, its confirming the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull last wednesday, which was a second eruption after Fimmvorduhals erupted earlier in april.

If there was a new one today it would be the third volcano to erupt.

Andrew

[Americano]

That article is old, its confirming the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull last wednesday, which was a second eruption after Fimmvorduhals erupted earlier in april.

If there was a new one today it would be the third volcano to erupt.

Andrew

Ah, I can't keep the names straight.

[Michael]

Maybe Iceland can number their volcanos! :D

[Michael]

Poor Icelandics (?) Icelanders (?) Ice-people (?).


Icelanders are part of Icelantic culture.

Ice-people would the be Inuit! :D

[Non Sequitur]

Ice-people would the be Inuit! :D

and/or characters in a sci-fi channel original movie

[Americano]

More (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html) great photos from the eruption.

[Michael]

More (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html) great photos from the eruption.

:thumbsup: Awesome photos!

I laughed when I saw one fellow wearing an 'Icelantic' sweater! I guess it really is true! :lol:

[The Drunk Guy]

More (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html) great photos from the eruption.
I kept expecting to see the Eye of Sauron. :shrug: