eyjafjallaj kull-volcano iceland - before and after
TRANSCRIPT
Iceland’s mountains are always covered in snow, called snow-
caps or glaciers.
Some glaciers can be as high as 1km!
Eyjafjallajökull(77 km2)
Eyjafjallajökull Mýrdalsjökull
Satellite picture of Southern Iceland showing EyjafjallajSatellite picture of Southern Iceland showing Eyjafjallajöökull kull and the neighbouring glacier, Mand the neighbouring glacier, Mýýrdalsjrdalsjöökullkull
Below EyjafjallajBelow Eyjafjallajöökull’s thick layer of ice is an active kull’s thick layer of ice is an active volcano. The volcano is not visible from normal volcano. The volcano is not visible from normal
satellite photography.satellite photography.
Aerial view of EyjafjallajAerial view of Eyjafjallajöökullkull
Closer aerial view of EyjafjallajCloser aerial view of Eyjafjallajöökull kull showing the glacier outlet with ice showing the glacier outlet with ice
melting to form a lakemelting to form a lake
Ground view of EyjafjallajGround view of Eyjafjallajöökull glacier outlet. kull glacier outlet. Yes – the glacier is Yes – the glacier is BLUEBLUE colour. colour.
EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull as seen from the main kull as seen from the main coastal highwaycoastal highway
Eyja-fjalla-jEyja-fjalla-jöökull:kull:
Eyja = islandEyja = islandFjalla = mountainFjalla = mountainJJöökull = glacierkull = glacier
It is pronounced: "AY-uh--fyat-luh--YOE-kuutl-uh"It is pronounced: "AY-uh--fyat-luh--YOE-kuutl-uh"
This pretty village is called This pretty village is called Skogar. It lies just south of EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull and has a total population of 25 people!kull and has a total population of 25 people!
Skogar is famous for it’s magnificent watarfall, Skogafoss.Its water comes from the melting ice from EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull.kull.
In March 2010 EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull eruptedkull erupted
It was a small fissure explosion
Tourists came flocking to check out the explosion
In April 2010 EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull’s kull’s volcano erupted for the 2volcano erupted for the 2ndnd time. time.
The 2The 2ndnd eruption spewed ash several kilometers into the atmosphere eruption spewed ash several kilometers into the atmosphere and caused Europe’s airspace to close for many daysand caused Europe’s airspace to close for many days
Skogafoss covered in ashSkogafoss covered in ash
Conditions of heavy smoke and ash in a nearby farmConditions of heavy smoke and ash in a nearby farm
Satellite picture showing volcanic ash being blown towards Great Britain
The melting glacier causedmassive flooding
Melted glacier water mixed with volcanic ash flooding down the glacier outletMelted glacier water mixed with volcanic ash flooding down the glacier outlet
Dirtied glacier water flooding the valleyDirtied glacier water flooding the valley
Aerial view of the flood from an airplaneAerial view of the flood from an airplane
Some 800 people had to be evacuatedSome 800 people had to be evacuateddue to the floodingdue to the flooding
A man takes a picture of a roadA man takes a picture of a roadthat has been washed away by floodthat has been washed away by flood
The eruption gave excellent opportunitiesThe eruption gave excellent opportunitiesfor spectacular photographyfor spectacular photography
Like magma lightningLike magma lightning
And auroraAnd aurora
The past 3 EyjafjallajThe past 3 Eyjafjallajöökull eruptions in kull eruptions in 920, 1612 & 1921 preceeded eruptions 920, 1612 & 1921 preceeded eruptions of Katla, a brother volcano located in of Katla, a brother volcano located in
the neighbouring Mthe neighbouring Mýýrdalsjrdalsjöökull glacier kull glacier whose underground magma network is whose underground magma network is
connected to Eyjafjallajconnected to Eyjafjallajöökull kull
Mýrdalsjökull
Location of Katla in relation Location of Katla in relation to Eyjafjallajökull
Eyjafjallajökull
Katla volcano(buried beneath glacier)
Katla is much more active and known for its powerful subglacial eruptions and its large magma chamber. It
erupts every 40-80 years. The last eruption was in 1918, and the EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull eruption has (on 20kull eruption has (on 20thth April 2010) April 2010)
triggered Icelandic triggered Icelandic President Olafur Grimsson to say,
“the time for Katla to erupt is coming close ... we [Iceland] have prepared ... it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over the world to start planning for the eventual
Katla eruption”
THE QUESTIONTHE QUESTIONIS:IS:
Will you be there whenWill you be there whenKatla eventually erupts?Katla eventually erupts?