The news tonight at Stöð 2 (Channel 2) in Iceland reports that there is a new ash trail visible from the top crater in Eyjafjallajökull. It can be seen because of the new snow layer on top of Eyjafjallajökull that did fall few days ago.
Geologists find this interesting. But they are unclear on why this happens. But they doubt this is due to explosions happening in the crater. The ash is either carried by steam or by wind over the crater rim and falls into the new snow on top of Eyjafjallajökull.
The news can be viewed here (in Icelandic, Windows Media Player required to view this video).
Jon Your helicorder is waking up!
@renee, Yes. It just got fixed around 12:48 UTC.
Awesome! I’m dying to see what’s up Also concerned about the tremor plots the ones that I have been focusing on around Ej and Ham they are still increasing I know the God station is a loud station but this is rather regular. Has any new info come out the gps and the Glum rise?
I saw some odd flashes (many) atop Ejafjallajokul the night before last and after, with what appeared do be ‘explosions’ at the crater, to and with the largest to the far right of the FLIR visual screen, which I thought was most likely to be lightening strikes – however,
1) the normal camera was not registering any light flashes in the dark, which argues against this.
2) the flashes were in sequence
3) there is no indication at IMO of increased EQ activity over the same period
I am still guessing lightening strikes, but perhpas enough to stir up ash from the previous fall?
As soon as the cloud cleared enough, things appeared to – mostly – settle. But not entirely, straight away. So my amateur query for an alternate plausible explanation was could this have been a new vent that cleared its throat – but if so, why no EQs?
@renee, There is a new storm coming to Iceland or close by. That is why. You are just seeing the weather.
Whether or not it’s the weather, it’s still worth watching.
(This post was just a flimsy excuse to use those two words in a sentence)
more news on E’s ash
That was supposed to be http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11422989
new (28/9)news on ash from Eyjafjallajökull –
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11422989
sorry for the duplicate posts, when I checked back (some time after posting) nothing was there….
@birdseye, Your replays got stuck in the moderation queen. This happens first time around when replayed to my blog posts. But after that it should be no problem. Unless you have more then three links in your replay, then it is moderation queen until I can approve the replay to the blog post in question.
@Birdseye: Hey, you too have an angry avatar!
Thanks for the update on Eyjaf’s ashes. I wonder how is Birgit faring with the samples from her museum in Austria. Now I don’t quite remember if she collected them in Austria and had them sent to Jón or if she asked Jón to send them from Iceland to her. If they were collected in Austria it would be interesting to compare them with the samples from England, after a long journey into central Europe.
If I understood it well, ash is a basic raw material in the formation of continental crust, isn’t it? So it would be of much interest to know how the particles get mingled together, right?
Hi Renato – my first one had sunglasses….this one just looks frustrated – pretty common for me on a computer! I think Birgit’s samples went to Austria.
RE: ash and continental crust, word is here from my consultant DH is that rhyolitic ash is probably recycled continental crust, but basaltic ash comes from the mantle and could become incorporated in the continental crust. \The subduction zone is the machine that makes continental crust.\
@ Lurking: You mean “Worth watching whether weather or not.” :p
I did send volcano ash to Brigit in Austria. I got some pictures. I don’t have any idea what did happen after that.
Jon, it appears that the freqency of EQ at the NW edge of Mýrdalsjökull is slightly up and over the past several weeks, I have seen the percentage of these that are > 5km increase. Also, the clustering pattern appears to be migrating to one of the prior eruption sites in the center of the caldera. I don’t want to read much into this, but I am wondering if this is an atypical summer pattern for Katla. I am unable to read or understand the GPS readings there. Are you watching this one with interest?
Btw, after wondering in the internet desert for some meaningful place to learn more about Icelandic volcano’s, I can say for myself that your idea for this blog was a smash hit for me. Touche’ !
Ron! Have you read this article about Katla and Eyjafjallajökull? http://www2.norvol.hi.is/Apps/WebObjects/HI.woa/swdocument/1015721/Sturkell_etal_2009b.pdf
If you look at figure 2.7, you’ll see that the EQ activity fits the Godabunga area where it is believed a failed eruption (i.e. a successful intrusion of magma), a so-called “cryptodome is located”. In the paper it is said that the Godabunga cryptodome is believed to be part of the Eyjafjalla volcanic system and not Katla’s.
That’s not to say that some of the deeper EQs belong to the Katla system. 😉