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Intrusion triggering of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull explosive eruption

Author

Listed:
  • Freysteinn Sigmundsson

    (Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland)

  • Sigrún Hreinsdóttir

    (Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland)

  • Andrew Hooper

    (Delft Institute of Earth Observation and Space Systems, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS, Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Thóra Árnadóttir

    (Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland)

  • Rikke Pedersen

    (Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland)

  • Matthew J. Roberts

    (Icelandic Meteorological Office, Bustadavegur 9, IS-150 Reykjavik, Iceland)

  • Níels Óskarsson

    (Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland)

  • Amandine Auriac

    (Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland)

  • Judicael Decriem

    (Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland)

  • Páll Einarsson

    (Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland)

  • Halldór Geirsson

    (Icelandic Meteorological Office, Bustadavegur 9, IS-150 Reykjavik, Iceland)

  • Martin Hensch

    (Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland)

  • Benedikt G. Ófeigsson

    (Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland)

  • Erik Sturkell

    (University of Gothenburg, Box 460, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Hjörleifur Sveinbjörnsson

    (Icelandic Meteorological Office, Bustadavegur 9, IS-150 Reykjavik, Iceland)

  • Kurt L. Feigl

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Abstract

Volcanic unrest before the eruption that closed Europe's air space The ash cloud that brought chaos to European air traffic in April this year was the result of emissions from an Icelandic volcano that had been intermittently active for about 18 years. A combination of detailed space-based geodetic measurements and seismic monitoring of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in the run-up to the ash-producing explosive summit eruption reveals an unusual deformation pattern that may be attributed to its off-rift setting with relatively cool subsurface structure and limited magma at shallow depth. As to the predictability of such a dramatic reawakening, the immediate precursors to the initial eruption of the volcano in 2010 were subtle and difficult to detect, but the clear signs of volcanic unrest during the weeks, months and years preceding it may provide better clues to the catastrophic explosion.

Suggested Citation

  • Freysteinn Sigmundsson & Sigrún Hreinsdóttir & Andrew Hooper & Thóra Árnadóttir & Rikke Pedersen & Matthew J. Roberts & Níels Óskarsson & Amandine Auriac & Judicael Decriem & Páll Einarsson & Halldór , 2010. "Intrusion triggering of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull explosive eruption," Nature, Nature, vol. 468(7322), pages 426-430, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:468:y:2010:i:7322:d:10.1038_nature09558
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09558
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