Helka volcano ready to blow !
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Helka volcano ready to blow !
POTENTIAL TRAVEL DISRUPTION FROM HEKLA VOLCANO ICELAND / 06 JULY 2011
Officials in Iceland are closely monitoring the Hekla volcano which they think may erupt in the foreseeable future. A geophysicist from the University of Iceland, Pall Einarsson, said, 'The movements around Hekla have been unusual in the last two to three days.' Another expert agreed that the volcano looked "ready to blow".
Hekla is situated near the Eyjafjoell volcano, which erupted last year and disrupted European aviation for several weeks last year. The ash cloud forced cancellations and delays to more than 100,000 flights, affecting around eight million passengers. More recently in May, Iceland's Grimsvotn volcano erupted, spewing ash clouds for several thousands of miles into European airspace leading to minor disruption to European air travel.
Hekla has been described as the country's 'most feared' and has erupted around 20 times over the past 100 years, with the most recent occurring in 2000. Experts think that Hekla is due for another large-scale eruption, potentially more devastating than Eyjafjoell.
Although local experts have been unable to provide a specific timeline for a possible eruption, one salient point to note about Hekla is that it historically has given very short notice of an eruption. There is also the potential Hekla may have more of a lava eruption rather than a combination of ash and lava which will have less of an impact on flight conditions. However, there is consensus that it will be difficult to forecast what kind of eruption or how long it will last.
Officials in Iceland are closely monitoring the Hekla volcano which they think may erupt in the foreseeable future. A geophysicist from the University of Iceland, Pall Einarsson, said, 'The movements around Hekla have been unusual in the last two to three days.' Another expert agreed that the volcano looked "ready to blow".
Hekla is situated near the Eyjafjoell volcano, which erupted last year and disrupted European aviation for several weeks last year. The ash cloud forced cancellations and delays to more than 100,000 flights, affecting around eight million passengers. More recently in May, Iceland's Grimsvotn volcano erupted, spewing ash clouds for several thousands of miles into European airspace leading to minor disruption to European air travel.
Hekla has been described as the country's 'most feared' and has erupted around 20 times over the past 100 years, with the most recent occurring in 2000. Experts think that Hekla is due for another large-scale eruption, potentially more devastating than Eyjafjoell.
Although local experts have been unable to provide a specific timeline for a possible eruption, one salient point to note about Hekla is that it historically has given very short notice of an eruption. There is also the potential Hekla may have more of a lava eruption rather than a combination of ash and lava which will have less of an impact on flight conditions. However, there is consensus that it will be difficult to forecast what kind of eruption or how long it will last.
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Unusual activity around 'Hekla'
Just come across this news report.
Iceland's 'Gateway To Hell' Ready To Erupt - Yahoo! News
Scientists have detected unusual activity.
Iceland's 'Gateway To Hell' Ready To Erupt - Yahoo! News
Scientists have detected unusual activity.
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Here we go again, possible eruption in Iceland!
First indications of a Katla eruption was the last nights glacial flood that forced the authorities to close route 1 (the main road) south of Mýrdalsjökull, where Katla is located.
There are still no signs of a plume, but large suppressions have formed on the glacier indicating what activity is going on deep within. Nearby villages and farms have been evacuated (mainly due to dangers of glacial flooding), but at this time the eruption appears to be small.
Katla last erupted in 1918, and people have been dreading the next one for a long time, since the volcano is very powerful, and situated under a glacier which is not a good news if the activity will increase.
I have not been able to locate any news in English, but here is a link to the story in Icelandic.
There are still no signs of a plume, but large suppressions have formed on the glacier indicating what activity is going on deep within. Nearby villages and farms have been evacuated (mainly due to dangers of glacial flooding), but at this time the eruption appears to be small.
Katla last erupted in 1918, and people have been dreading the next one for a long time, since the volcano is very powerful, and situated under a glacier which is not a good news if the activity will increase.
I have not been able to locate any news in English, but here is a link to the story in Icelandic.
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Bittair,
thanks for that. I have recently left ATC after 30 years, but did a BSc in Geology/Physical Geography too. Fascinating stuff, you are our eyes and ears up there, keep us informed!
thanks for that. I have recently left ATC after 30 years, but did a BSc in Geology/Physical Geography too. Fascinating stuff, you are our eyes and ears up there, keep us informed!
