Hekla volcano (Iceland): strong inflation suggest volcano could be close to erupting

May 1, 2013 – ICELAND – The famous Icelandic volcano is showing further signs that indicate an eruption could occur in a near future. Significant rapid inflation, concentrated in the northern part of the volcano, has been detected since early April and likely represents accumulation of rising magma underneath. Already in mid March this year, an earthquake swarm, volcanic tremor and deformation caused an alert, because it was believed that this was caused by rapid movement of magma under the volcano. The last eruption of the volcano was in March 2000, and it is estimated that by now, a significantly larger volume of magma has since then accumulated beneath the volcano. This would mean that a new eruption should be expected to be larger than the last one. Hekla’s eruptions normally begin with a powerful explosive phase, and could pose a significant hazard to anyone in close (less than 10 km) proximity during the onset of it. –Volcano Discovery

Growing threat from Iceland volcanoes: British researchers say some Icelandic volcanoes could produce eruptions just as explosive as those in the Pacific Rim, with disruptive ash clouds. Previously, scientists had thought that Icelandic magma was less “fizzy” — containing less volcanic gases like carbon dioxide — than that in Pacific Ocean volcanoes, and expected much less explosive eruptions by comparison. However, research by Britain’s The Open University and Lancaster University said they’ve found evidence of Icelandic magma twice as “fizzy” as previously believed, increasing the likelihood of future eruptions like that of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010 that created ash clouds that disrupted air travel over large parts of Europe. The researchers analyzed pumice and lava from an eruption at Iceland’s Torfajokull volcano some 70,000 years ago to search for evidence of the levels of gases from water and carbon dioxide in the eruption. “I was amazed by what I found,” Lancaster University doctoral student Jacqui Owen said. “I measured up to 5 percent of water in the inclusions, more than double what was expected for Iceland, and similar in fact to the values for explosive eruptions in the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire.’ “We knew the Torfajokull volcanic eruption was huge — almost 100 times bigger than recent eruptions in Iceland — but now we also know it was surprisingly gas-rich.” The researchers said their study shows Icelandic volcanoes have the power to generate the fine ash capable of being transported long distances and cause disruption across Europe. With worrying evidence of increased volcanic activity, “Iceland’s position close to mainland Europe and the north Atlantic flight corridors means air travel could be affected again,” Lancaster researcher Hugh Tuffen said. –UPI