Sunday, May 22, 2011

Grimsvotn Volcano, Iceland - John Seach

Keflavík airport in Iceland has been closed due to the eruption of Grímsvötn volcano. Ashfall surrounding the volcano has already reached a thickness of half a centimetre. This is the largest eruption at Grímsvotn volcano in 100 years and larger than the one in Eyjafjallajökull last year. It is similar to the eruption of 1873 at Grímsvotn. A large glacial flood (Jokulhlaup) is not expected. This morning ash emissions reached a height of 15 to 18 kilometres, which is ten times more powerful than the last eruption in Grímsvötn in 2004.
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Grimsvotn Volcano, Iceland - John Seach

An eruption began at Grímsvötn volcano in Iceland at approximately 17:30 UTC, on 21st May 2011. The volcano is located under the Vatnajokull glacier in south-east Iceland. The subglacial eruption sent a plume 20 km high. A 120 nautical mile flight restriction has been placed around the volcano. A group of people stayed in a hut in Grímsvötn volcano the night before the eruption, and had left an midday on Saturday six hours before the eruption started. The group noticed nothing unusual, but another group that climbed Hrútafellstindar in the southern part of Vatnajökull glacier said they smelled suphur on the morning of 21st May. More than one hundred people climbed Öræfajökull, Iceland’s highest peak on Saturday and saw nothing unusual. A flood in Skeidarársandur is expected, and will depend on the exact location of the eruption. Eruptions in Grímsvötn are quite frequent, every ten years on the average and are generally short and small. Many of the eruptions have lasted from one to three weeks, the 2004 eruption lasted only four days.
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Sunday, May 08, 2011

Gamkonora Volcano, Indonesia - John Seach

Seismic activity has increased at Gamkonora volcano, Indonesia. During January to May 2011 an average of two shallow volcanic earthquakes, and one deep earthquake was measured at the volcano per day, and emissions rose 50-100 m above the crater. On 1st May 46 deep earthquakes, and 6 shallow earthquakes occurred. On 2nd May 35 deep earthquakes and 2 shallow earthquakes were detected at the volcano, and emissions reached a height of 300 m above the crater. The smell of sulphur was reported at villages near the volcano. On the 3rd May the alert level at the volcano was increased from Normal (Level I) to Waspada (Level II).
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