Iceland’s most active volcano is on the edge of appearing once again

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    Grimsvotn volcano erupting in 2011

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    The eruption of the Grímsvötn volcano sent out countless tonnes of ashes into the sky on May 23, 2011 (Picture: Getty)

    A volcano in Iceland that gushed an ash cloud 12 miles into the air less than 10 years earlier might be on the edge of going off once again, specialists state.

    Grímsvötn Volcano last emerged in 2011, sending out countless tonnes of ashes into the sky and triggering the cancellation of 900 flights.

    Covered nearly entirely in Ice it is the nation’s most active volcano, with some 65 eruptions tape-recorded over the past 800 years.

    Last week authorities raised the Aviation Colour Code from green to yellow after researchers tape-recorded seismic activity showing lava is swelling in the pipes of the volcano. 

    The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) stated raising the danger level did not imply an eruption impended, however included: ‘Multiple datasets now indicate that Grímsvötn volcano has reached a level of unrest.’

    An eruption would be not likely to put anybody in instant risk due to the rural place of Grímsvötn.

    But Dr Dave McGarvie, a volcano professional at Lancaster University, cautioned that it might trigger heavy regional flooding.

    Grimsvotn Volcano

    Grímsvötn Volcano is a subglacial volcano located near the centre of the Vatnajokull ice cap in Iceland (Picture: Getty)

    Anna Hardadottir, a farmer of Horgsland, leads a horse, through the ash pouring out of the erupting Grimsvoetn volcano

    Anna Hardadottir, a farmer of Horgsland, leads a horse, through the ash putting out of the appearing Grímsvötn volcano in May 2011 (Picture: Getty)

    Due to Grímsvötn’s uncommon position – buried in thick ice – a blast of heat from the volcano can trigger large amounts of meltwater.

    ‘This meltwater can escape suddenly,’ Dr McGarvie composed in The Conversation.

    ‘After travelling southwards beneath the ice for about 45 kilometres it emerges at the ice margin as a flood, which in the past has washed away roads and bridges.’

    Although the ice will trigger flooding, it likewise provides a layer of security as it soaks up the the primary force of the surge.

    Grímsvötn volcano when it erupted in 2011

    Grímsvötn is on the edge of appearing once again, according to researchers (Picture: Getty Images)

    This suggests ash will be gushed 10s of miles into the air, instead of hundreds, and it will distribute rapidly.

    However it might still publish big issues for flight at a time when the market is frantically attempting to recuperate from the effect of the pandemic.

    The Aviation Colour Code is an alert system that particularly alerts of the capacity for big ash clouds stimulated by volcanoes.

    It has 4 levels: Green, yellow, orange and red.

    Grímsvötn rests on yellow in the meantime, however might increase even more up the scale if more seismic activity is identified.

    Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupting

    Ash clouds increase from the appearing Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010 (Picture: Getty)

    Dr McGarvie stated the volcano typically emerges every 5 to 10 years which if previous patterns are to pass, any impending eruption would not be big.

    He composed: ‘If Grímsvötn’s previous pattern of periodic big eruptions with more many smaller sized eruptions happening in between continues into the future, then the next eruption ought to be a little one (offered there was a big one in 2011). And the word “should” is necessary here – Iceland’s volcanoes are complicated natural systems and patterns are not constantly followed consistently.’

    Iceland is house to a variety of volcanoes.

    The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption was smaller sized in power compared to the 2011 Grímsvötn eruption however sent out far more ash into the sky.

    The ash clouds triggered by the Eyjafjallajökull eruption caused flight turmoil for 6 days in April 2010 and once again in May, grounding around 100,000 flights.

    The overall losses suffered by the airline company market as an outcome of the surge was approximated to be around £1.1bn.

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