Fissure 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull



second fissure, viewed north, on 2 april 2010


the first phase of 2010 eruption began late on evening of 20 march @ eyjafjallajökull.


the initial visual report of eruption @ 23:52 gmt, when red cloud seen @ north slopes of fimmvörðuháls mountain pass, lighting sky above eruptive site. eruption preceded intense seismicity , high rates of deformation in weeks before eruption, in association magma recharging of volcano. before eruption, depth of seismicity had become shallow, not enhanced had been in previous weeks. deformation occurring @ rates centimetre day since 4 march @ various gps sites installed within 12 km (7.5 mi) eruptive site.


a fissure opened 150 metres (490 ft) in length running in north-east south-west direction, 10 12 erupting lava craters ejecting lava @ temperature around 1,000 °c (1,800 °f) 150 m (490 ft) air. lava alkali olivine basalt , relatively viscous, causing motion of lava stream west , east of fissure slow. molten lava flowed more 4,000 m (13,000 ft) north-east of fissure , hrunagil canyon, forming lava fall more 200 m (660 ft) long , approaching Þórsmörk, had not yet reached flood plains of krossá.


on 25 march 2010, while studying eruption, scientists witnessed, first time in history, formation of pseudocrater during steam explosion. crustal expansion continued @ Þorvaldseyri 2 days after eruption began, decreasing whilst volcanic activity increasing. indicates rate @ magma flowing magma chamber equaled rate @ being lost due eruption, giving evidence phase of volcanic activity reached equilibrium.


a new fissure opened on 31 march, around 200 m (660 ft) north-west of original fissure. many witnesses present while new fissure opened. bit smaller, around 300 m (980 ft) long according witnesses, , lava coming started flow hvannárgil canyon. these 2 erupting fissures shared same magma chamber, according geophysicists. no unusual seismic activity detected @ time new fissure appeared, nor crustal expansion according many seismometers , gps recorders situated in nearby areas.


geophysicist magnús tumi einarsson said (at press meeting in hvolsvöllur on 21 march) eruption small compared to, example, eruption of hekla in 2000. eruption, rather taking place under ice cap of glacier, occurred in mountain pass between eyjafjallajökull , mýrdalsjökull glaciers. long fissure not near glacier, risk of flooding minimal; however, fissure extend ice cap, thereby increasing risk of flooding.








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