Threat of new, larger Icelandic eruption looms

Well, I'm glad I'm staying put and am far away... of course, with all the volcanoes and earthquakes in Japan, there's that ever present feeling of concern hidden away in the recesses. Hope Katla can hang in there and not blow.

Hey Katla listen here. Can you at least wait for the F1 and Moto GP season to finish.

If the ashes from Katla were to reach the upper stratosphere in large quantities, the damage would be to far more than the airline industry. Past volcanic eruptions have caused major famines because the sunlight is partially blocked for years. I remember 1991, when Japan's rice crop largely failed and we had to wait in lines for the little available rice, due to an eruption in the Philippines. Katla could be much worse. So could Eyjafjallajokull, for that matter, if it becomes increasingly active over the coming months and years.

OK, well let's make it short then. Remove some of that ice before she blows?

Volcanoes under glaciers present an interesting geological situation. It is believed that very explosive volcanoes are so due to their water content; think of a closed bottle of soda, shaken, then opened: the pressure is enormous whatever the bottle size. Similarly, super-heated water trapped within sub-glacial pressure will remain liquid, but should an exit appear and the pressure suddenly drop, it will expand to hundreds of its size and - well, Champagne time, geologically speaking.

Im surprised they arent trying to blame this on "global warming" too.

realist: actually large volcanic eruptions cool the atmosphere. global cooling would occur

All the recent earthquake and volcanic activity may be nature's response to the warming of the average ambient air temperature (heat makes things expand and when applied on a global scale, there is A LOT to expand), so you COULD make an argument that it is being caused by "global warming". Maybe the volcanoes are Earth's way of "turning down the thermostat". Temperature going up? Pump a lot of ash into the air and cool things off. Cooled off enough? Volcanoes go dormant and ash settles. Repeat as necessary.

I move that Iceland be renamed Icenfireland. When I read the title I thought there is no way I am going to believe such a prediction, but the article does have compelling reasons that make it a fair prediction.

vdokng Yes, I know that, but the Global warming religionists also blame global cooling on global warming, and just about everything esle these days!

Iceland and Greenland... two of the most badly mis-named countries in the world. :-)

All the recent earthquake and volcanic activity may be nature's response to the warming of the average ambient air temperature (heat makes things expand and when applied on a global scale, there is A LOT to expand), so you COULD make an argument that it is being caused by "global warming".

Ya just one problem, those earth quakes take place miles below the surface of the earths crust, there is no way the ambient air temperature is having any impact on something miles below the surface of the earth crust.

At least this volcano is easier to pronounce. To date I think I've heard one journalist say it with confidence.