Eyjafjallajokul, the volcano in Iceland that wreaked havoc on so many travelers in Europe in April, has slowed down tremendously over the last week. Experts say there has been very little activity from the volcano. There appears to be steam still coming from the mouth of the volcano but the ash has stopped - for now. The volcano may be quiet, but that does not mean the region can rest. The possibility of another eruption - from Eyjafjallajokul or the neighboring Katla volcano - could be just around the corner. Iceland is a new land mass in the grand scheme of things. The volcanoes around Iceland are still growing the land on a regular basis. The locals expect an eruption about every half century. Most of the eruptions cause little issue for residents and none for the rest of the world. Occasionally the eruptions reach massive sizes and then the world takes notice.
A volcanic eruption from a fissure in Laki in 1783 created the year without a summer. The massive ash cloud sent up by that volcano caused a cooling of the earth’s atmosphere that resulted in something similar to a mini ice age in the Northern Hemisphere. The drop in temperature harmed agriculture around the world. The eruption lasted for several months.
The ash clouds from these eruptions can reach the upper levels of the atmosphere and hang around for many weeks. Ashes at this level reflect the sun and cause the temperatures to fall.
The eruption of Eyjafjallajokull is not expected to have the same catastrophic effects that the Iceland eruption of the 1700’s had on the world. This eruption has only lasted just over a month while the Laki eruption continued for several months.
Experts are hesitant to say that the Eyjafjallajokull eruption has ended. The volcano is quiet, but that does not mean that it is time to relax. Airlines still have to deal with all of the ash that continues to float around the atmosphere. The sharp, glass-like ash can clog the engines of an airplane and even tear holes in the engines.
Scientists are still warning that more eruptions may be eminent - not only from Eyjafjallajokull, but also from Katla (the more aggressive of the volcanoes). The eruption of Eyjafjallajokull may be the one element necessary to set off Katla. The lava flow from the neighboring volcano could melt enough of the top from Katla. The activity from Katla has increased in the last several weeks.
The volcanic tremors from Eyjafjallajokull have decreased and continue to decrease to a level below that of April 14th. The temperatures being recorded have also cooled. That is the good news for the region (and for air travel around the world). The bad news is that an eruption from Katla has been predicted to be 10 times more powerful than what happened in Iceland on April 14th. Some scientists warn that such an eruption could push the world climate into another one as cold as that of the 1700s. Other scientists fear that a catastrophic eruption will cause a severe ice age for the whole world.
Flights have already started back as the aviation authorities relaxed safety rules. Officials still warned travelers that even with the openings and the relaxed rules, it would take a while for things to adjust back to normal.
The last eruption of Eyjafjallajokul occurred back in 1821. That single eruption rumbled on for two years. The April eruption seems to have ended, but experience of the past tells residents and scientists that more should always be expected.