Initial Publication Date: October 7, 2011

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Eyjafjalla Glacier, Iceland

2010 Icelandic Volcano Eruption

Compiled by John McDaris, SERC.

The eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull (pronunciation) volcano in March and April 2010 posed significant challenges for the people of Iceland as well as millions of people across Europe whose airplanes were grounded due to the high concentrations of volcanic ash. One unresolved question centers around the whether this eruption will trigger an eruption by the larger Katla volcano which is located close by and often erupts after its smaller neighbor.

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Visualizations

Ash Cloud from Eyjafjallajoekull Volcano 2010
Animation of the ash plume from Icelandic eruption: This animation from the European Space Agency models the dispersion of the ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull based on tracing SO2 concentrations measured by satellite.
Eyjafjallajökull Volcano - March 24, 2010
NASA Observes Ash Plume of Icelandic Volcano: This page from NASA displays various imagery and information about the ash plume from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano.
Eyjafjallajökull Volcano - March 24, 2010
Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Iceland: These images and articles from NASA's Earth Observatory start tracking the Iceland volcano's ash cloud on March 24, 2010.
Lightning Over Eyjafjallajökull
The Big Picture: Eyjafjallajökull: This photo gallery from The Boston Globe has some truly amazing photos taken in the shadow of this eruption.

Information and News Reports

CNN
Ash causing more than travel woes: This video news report from CNN highlights some of the effects that the eruption Eyjafjallajökull is having across Iceland.
European Space Agency logo
Satellite Data Improve Aviation Safety: This article from the European Space Agency discusses how tracking volcanic ash clouds via satellite can help avoid dangers to airplane travel.
NPR
Iceland's Volcanic Eruption and its Aftermath: This page from National Public Radio aggregates their stories and broadcasts related to Eyjafjallajökull.
Eyjafjallajökull 1992
Global Volcanism Project: Eyjafjallajökull: This set of pages on Eyjafjallajökull is part of the Global Volcanism Project of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Extensive descriptive information and imagery is available as well as information on regional volcanism.
CNN
How Volcanoes Can Change the World: This opinion piece from CNN explores other historical eruptions in Iceland, their effects then, and what the effects of similar eruptions would be in today's world. The author, Rosanne D'Arrigo, is a senior research scientist at the Tree-Ring Laboratory of the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory.
Lava Fountain on Eyjafjallajökull
Iceland Prepares for Second, More Devastating Volcanic Eruption: This article from the Times of London explores the historical connections between Eyjafjallajökull and Katla and some of the effects during past eruptions of Katla.

 

Teaching Activities and Materials