Mountain erupted in Iceland, the World Threatens

Mountain erupted in Iceland

Smaller eruptions in Iceland is now the attention of researchers. Colossal eruption in 1783 that spewed lava and clouds of ash eight months is feared could happen again.

Scientists rank volcano volcanic explosion index (VEI) from zero to eight. Measurement is based on how much material being thrown from a volcano, how high the eruption and how long it lasts.

Like an earthquake measuring scale, VEI is logarithmic, which means mountain of fire with the number five is 10 times more powerful than the size of four.

Until now, scientists have not managed to collect enough data to calculate the VEI of Eyjafjoll who had just broken out. But Thorvaldur Thordarson, Iceland eruption expert at the University of Edinburgh estimated strength of two or three similar VEI eruptions of Mount Etna in Sicily in 2002 and 2003. The eruption of that size could happen on earth at least once every year.

In contrast, the eruption of Mount St. Helens, in the northwest United States in May 1980, is the one event in 10 years with a VEI of about four. While the explosion of Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 is one in 50-100 years with a VEI of five or six.

The larger is the eruption of Tambora on Sumbawa Island Indonesia in 1815. Ashes are responsible for the spectacular sunsets that painted Turner. It has seven eruption VEI scale (one year in 1000 killed more than 70,000 people.

But events could Eyjafjoll quite disturbing. The last time Iceland had the eruption of this size in 2004, when the volcano erupted Grimsvotn. "At the time of fly ash clouds to the north, but this time the jet stream has been brought to south-east, towards England," said Thordarson.

Fly ash to some of Europe's busiest flight line was causing Eyjafjoll become big news. No one wanted to take the risk to fly through the clouds that may be choking the engine.

Eyjafjoll eruptions would subside within a day or two, but can last much longer. Even if Eyjafjoll silent again, that does not mean complete. "Last Eyjafjoll erupted (in 1823), for more than a year," said Bill McGuire, Director of the Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre at University College London.

Thordarson agreed and said a number of eruptions Eyjafjoll happen for several years. But for this latest eruption vulcanologis not surprising. "There are a lot of unrest in the bottom of this volcano during the last 10 years that its intensity increased at the beginning of this year," said Thordarson.

In fact, many are happy vulcanologis. "This is a pleasant surprise for us, for a while yet erupted," said Dougal Jerram, the University of Durham.

To vulcanologis, Iceland is a paradise. There are 30 system active volcano on the island and is very often a fireworks display. Geologists believe, the reason he simply exploded Iceland is sitting on a fur coat, an abnormal increase in the hot liquid at the edge of the earth's core.

To make these things more spectacular, mantle under the Atlantic ridge. Cracks in the middle of the Atlantic, where the ocean floor is divided and kept issuing fresh lava.

Although his position perfectly, Iceland fail to achieve its reputation in recent decades. "Volcanoes are very quiet during the latter half of the 20th century," said Thordarson.

But in the last 10 years, vulcanologis have noticed the roar rose from below and said that Iceland may be a more active phase of a very large eruption. If vulcanologis true, then we can have a great beat.

The last time Iceland had a colossal eruption was in 1783. Cracks near Grimsvotn named Laki volcano blew up and spewed fountains of lava and clouds of ash for eight months.

Toxic sulfur dioxide gas to kill more than half of Iceland's livestock population and causes of hunger that eliminate about a quarter of the population of Iceland. Meanwhile, as the cloud was blowing toward the south wreaked havoc in Europe.

"Outpouring of sulfur dioxide during unusual weather conditions caused a thick fog spread in Western Europe resulted in the deaths of thousands of people throughout 1783 until the winter of 1784," Jerram said.

The fog was so thick that boats in all of Europe was forced to survive in the harbor. "There is evidence that He may cause the failure of Japan's rice harvest that year, and weaken the circulation of the season in Africa and India," said Thordarson.

At Boys VEI index is judged to have the strength of six or type of volcanic eruption that happens once every century. So what if Iceland's Laki re-produce?

"I think modern society is more prepared to involving health and environmental effect, but the economic consequences of air traffic stop for five months or more would be very severe