Icelandic Volcano Erupts

Apparently it's a 1km long fissure eruption. Luckily they're saying it isn't erupting directly under the glacier as that would cause major flooding.

BBC Article

Video Link

2nd Video

[edit on 21-3-2010 by Necrosis]

Well thats actually quite lucky as i was watching war or the worlds last night. Fresh Water Glacier and all that.. could have been the end.

And another one bites the dust...

2nd

That's so cool! A volcano erupting in the middle of a howling expanse of ice and snow! It's too bad nobody could have accurately predicted it, because that would make an awesome backdrop for a heavy metal video. Thanks for posting this.

I don't think that the danger of massive flooding has passed..... 500 people evacuated so far. I may be mistaken, but it was my impression that the volcano DID erupt under the ice.

We'll have to keep watching this. I was surprised there was no USGS earthquake report this morning.

ahhhh.....why doesn't this sound good.. !!! Not freaking out, but I've NEVER heard of this before..

anyone else ?? is there any other time this has happen in recorded history ..??

reply to post by Komodo


It was reported that the last time that this volcano erupted was 1821.

Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the highly volatile boundary between the Eurasian and North American continental plates, with quakes and eruptions.

The last volcanic eruption in the Eyjafjallajoekull area occurred in 1821

OPlink

reply to post by argentus


right.. so i'm going assume you NEVER heard or seen this happen in your life time..


thx ! that's 2 of us !!

Reference in the "Volcanoes in Iceland" I obtained when on a trip in Reykjavik some 7 years ago now quote the Eyjafjallajoekull Mountain as a Stratovolcanic-like feature, but with fissure eruptive properties. Although explosive eruptions have occured in this region some 200,000 years ago.

The entire Volcano is a Caldera that's predominantly had Stratovolcanic eruptions in the past, but then as the substance in the Magma changed (and the faults moved in time) this then steadily became a fissure. Interestingly the Eyjafjallajoekull eruption of 1612 and 1823 also "awoke" Katla, quoting local references to the 2 past recorded events.

Oh and it doesn't have to erupt under the ice for it to cause a problem, the entire system is on a Caldera (no its NOT a supervolcano), and thus as the Lava makes its way down it'll be carving out the Glacier causing Lahaars further downstream. Not forgetting also with Fissure eruptions is the massive quantities of gas they release into the atmosphere, not as in Ash but Sulphurous, Carbon Dioxide releasants etc.

www.abovetopsecret.com...


great find,

reply to post by Komodo


2010-03-21 04:54:40 - Volcano Eruption - Iceland

EDIS CODE: VE-20100321-25390-ISL
Date & Time: 2010-03-21 04:54:40 [UTC]
Area: Iceland, Southern Island, Volcano Eyjafjallajökull,

!!! ALERT !!!

Damage level: Moderate (Level 2)


Confirmed Information!

Description:

A volcano in southern Iceland has erupted, forcing hundreds of people living nearby to evacate their homes. Eyewitnesses say they can see flames and a steady stream of lava from the Eyjafallajoekull glacier.

Sigurgeir Gudmundsson of the Icelandic civil protections said: "We estimate that no one is in danger in the area but we have started an evacuation plan and between 500 and 600 people are being evacuated." Public broadcaster RUV reported that the eruption had started shortly after midnight and that the area's main road had been closed. It added that three Iceland-bound Icelandair flights, out of Boston, Orlando and Seattle, had been ordered to turn back to the United States.

It said local residents were being evacuated because of the risk of flooding caused by melting glacier waters. "Ash has already begun to fall in Fljotshlid and people in the surrounding area have reported seeing bright lights emanating from the glacier," RUV said. "There is currently no sign of flooding, but it could be imminent according to experts," it added. "It is not clear exactly where the eruption is taking place but it is being investigated." A volcano in the area of the Eyjafjallajokull glacier last erupted in 1821 and 1823.




Posted:2010-03-21 04:54:40 [UTC]

Live webcam from eruption here:

dagskra.ruv.is...

Really good discussion going on at the eruptions blog about this as well:

Eruptions Blog Discussion

I really, really, really, really wish I could go to Iceland! That is one of the most spectacular natural events you will ever see Knocks spots off a boring ol' stratovolcanic eruption

I'm amazed that a major and unusual eruption in Iceland is getting less attention on ATS than the fact that lots of volcanoes in Indonesia are not erupting ..... maybe that says something?

"rolls eyes"..anyway before this excellent thread is derailed even further..a link.

scienceblogs.com...

Katla will be interesting if this decides to blow, which its not done (as a major eruption) since 1755.

Hmmmm, my first thought upon reading this was:

"Iceland, you don't want to pay up? Here, have a natural disaster!"

It's the conspiracy pianist in me I guess...

Here is Icelands version of USGS website:

en.vedur.is...=map

Doesn't provide as detailed an information workup as the USGS, but its something to check out.

p

Looks like it's gonna be a good show tonight, weather cleared up and the eruption is raging.. they set up some cool cams here:

reykjavik.mydestinationinfo.com...

I've been home sick and watching these cams, couldnt see much last couple of days at all, everything was blocked by the weather, but now its cleared up a lot should be a good view.... it's already late can't wait to see how it looks at night!

Originally posted by elcapitano75
Looks like it's gonna be a good show tonight, weather cleared up and the eruption is raging.. they set up some cool cams here:

reykjavik.mydestinationinfo.com...

I've been home sick and watching these cams, couldnt see much last couple of days at all, everything was blocked by the weather, but now its cleared up a lot should be a good view.... it's already late can't wait to see how it looks at night!

I'm glued to the night-time webcam of the Eyjafjallajokull glacier from Thorolfsfell. Some great shows tonight.... Switching between that and the long shot from Hvolsvollur shows how big it is.. big black clouds of ?? being ejected regularly now - this wasn't happening an hour ago.

Anyone else watching that can comment??????

[edit on 24-3-2010 by MoorfNZ]

[edit on 24-3-2010 by MoorfNZ]