Eyjafjallajkull - Volcanic Eruption - Research Paper Example

Eyjafjallajokull Volcano Eyjafjallajokull Volcano Source: http www.boston.com/bigpicture 04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html The snow covered Eyjafjallajokull Volcano in Iceland was dormant for 190 years but it suddenly started erupting on 20th March 2010. This volcano is located in southern Iceland and it started erupting when an approximately 2000 feet long fissure cracked open in the Fimmvorduhals pass situated on the western slope of the volcanic mountain. But before the volcano erupted, there were enough signs that an eruption was imminent as the region experienced frequent earthquakes of moderate to high intensity which gradually rose towards the surface of the earth’s crust.

The area near the volcanic mountain rose by about two inches which signified that there was considerable lava flow underneath that area. All previous eruptions of this volcanic mountain had caused floods as the glacial ice melted as a result of volcanic eruption but the current eruption has taken place in an area that is covered by ice during winter only. So, the danger from flooding could be averted. Also all previous eruptions from Eyjafjallajokull were accompanied by simultaneous eruptions from the neighboring Katla volcano.

Thankfully, however, this time no volcanic activity was observed in Katla. (Simmon, 2010). Strange as it may sound, volcanic eruptions in Iceland have been constantly adding to its landmass. There is a definite reason as to why Iceland is peppered with volcanoes. It is situated in an area where two geological conditions that lead to the formation of a volcano are very much present. The first is the presence of a fissure in the earth’s crust and the second is continuous upward movement of molten rock, magma through that crack (Young, 2010).

Iceland also has numerous geysers and hot springs which are sure indications of heightened geothermal activity in that zone. As magma continued to erupt through the 2000 feet long fissure, small hills of cooled lava – scoria, were formed along the sides of the fissure and another stream of lava found its way towards the north-eastern direction along Hrunagil Gully. As the lava flow met the snow it melted at a furious pace creating white plumes of smoke that covered half the sky. The volcano started emitting copious amounts of dust, volcanic gasses and glass that covered the entire sky of Europe and caused one of the most serious disruptions in recent memory of air travel in that region (Klemetti, 2010).

The volcanic ash that was spewed by Eyjafjallajokull covered the entire sky above Europe and halted air travel into complete standstill for more than a month after the volcano erupted for the first time. The reason for such a complete halt was not only reduced visibility but also the presence of tiny volcanic rocks that were hugely present in the ash. These sharp edged tiny rocks were capable of badly damaging aircrafts, so badly that they could disintegrate in mid-air. So, no government allowed air travel in their air spaces and the economic loss of this disruption was not only restricted to airlines but also spilled over to several European and even African economies that depend on import and export as their primary economic activity (United Press International, 2010).

References Klemetti, E. (2010, March 26). Eruptions. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from scienceblogs.com: http://scienceblogs.com/eruptions/2010/03/eyjafjallajokull_update_for_32_1.php Simmon, R. (2010, September 22). Eruption of Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, Iceland . Retrieved February 5, 2011, from Earth Observatory: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=43252 United Press International. (2010, Aoril 17). Business News: Ash disrupts deliveries to British shops. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from upi.

com: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/04/17/Ash-disrupts-deliveries-to-British-shops/UPI-24111271522165/ Young, J. (2010, April 26). The Eyjafjallajokull Volcano in Southern Iceland: Some Facts. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from suite101.com: http://www.suite101.com/content/the-eyjafjallajokull-volcano-in-southern-iceland-some-facts-a228279