Scientists were worried then that neighbouring Katla caldera would also erupt and two years on, it's rumbling with erratic movements of the surface and bursts of earthquake activity beneath the caldera.
Katla's eruption in 1918 produced five times as much ash as the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull one. Last July, a flood of water burst from beneath the ice cap indicating that an extra pulse of heat from magma had reached the base of the ice.
Since Iceland was settled in the 9th Century, Katla has erupted nearly every 60 years but no significant event since 1918 and usually an eruption follows any eruption of Eyjafjallajokull within months. It seems it's well overdue.
6 comments:
Which is a tad scary.
Should we be afraid? Well, here of aircraft disruption.
I'd say that when it does go, it's going to be HUGE!! Everyone living within ash fall should be making plans to leave.
what El Chi said first-up.
we iz all sittin on de molten rock.
EC, think nuclear winter as the sun disappears behind the ash cloud.
Andrew, the authorities have been told to think and plan for just in case. It depends on what type of ash is floating around. The last one hit aircraft engines and turned to sharp glass as it cooled.
River, if you look at Iceland, there aren't many places to go that isn't ice or a volcano.
Annie O, you are so right. One of the problems is that with the ice melting in Iceland means that the weight of ice on land that is holding down the magma is not holding it down as well as it used to.
Confused? Try pronouncing that damn volcano.
There is an award for you at my place. I would really like it if you stopped by to collect it. You were a huge help to me when I first set foot in the blogosphere.
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