Icelandic Volcano - Non Travel Discussion

[Woody1985]

There's a lot of news about the volcano erupting just now and the fact that it is the smaller of the two that is going off, but there is potential for the other to go as well.

I heard on the news earlier today that the last time the large volcano erupted it lasted for approximately two years.

If this were to occur what would be the potential implications for the world and the economy as we currently know it.

Could it effectively bring Europe to a standstill for years to come? If that were the case I assume that would have catastrophic implications for all of our economies and potentially put millions of people into poverty.

And what would it mean for Scotland given our close proximately? Would we expect mass migration?

What are others thoughts / knowledge on this type of event?

[Sylar]

I was actually just having a look at the USGS seismic data for the past half hour and there are strong indications that an eruption of the larger volcano is likely. Small vents and fissures are opening up and releasing gases from it right now, but there is still a very strong possibility of it erupting.

If it were to happen, the potential impacts for US would be a lot more than just the restrictions in travel. Both volcanoes sit on the coast of Iceland - if a proper explosive eruption occurs, it will dislodge a lot of the surrounding landscape (which is a very loose glacial morraine), causing a massive displacement of land into the sea - no prizes for guessing what will happen next - such a mass displacement would trigger a huge tsunami, on a similar magnitude (possibly bigger) than the Storrega tsunami which submerged the entire East coast of Scotland under a huge volume of water, c.8000ya.

If the eruption is a similar release to the last time it erupted (similar "constant" release), then it would be interesting and potentially devastating for the entire of Europe. Imagine it - restricted travel, potential health risks from fall-out of the ash, population displacement to avoid said health risks, significant climate cooling...

Scary thought and sadly, a very real possibility.

[Ants]

It looks like grime times ahead for the air travel.

Can the planes not reduce their altitude over "dodgy" areas... this would mean that the plane would have to use more fuel.... but at least the world would start rotating again....???

Not the worlds no.1 avaiation entusiast, but a relevant point..

[Jack]

I was actually just having a look at the USGS seismic data for the past half hour and there are strong indications that an eruption of the larger volcano is likely. Small vents and fissures are opening up and releasing gases from it right now, but there is still a very strong possibility of it erupting.

If it were to happen, the potential impacts for US would be a lot more than just the restrictions in travel. Both volcanoes sit on the coast of Iceland - if a proper explosive eruption occurs, it will dislodge a lot of the surrounding landscape (which is a very loose glacial morraine), causing a massive displacement of land into the sea - no prizes for guessing what will happen next - such a mass displacement would trigger a huge tsunami, on a similar magnitude (possibly bigger) than the Storrega tsunami which submerged the entire East coast of Scotland under a huge volume of water, c.8000ya.

If the eruption is a similar release to the last time it erupted (similar "constant" release), then it would be interesting and potentially devastating for the entire of Europe. Imagine it - restricted travel, potential health risks from fall-out of the ash, population displacement to avoid said health risks, significant climate cooling...

Scary thought and sadly, a very real possibility.

If Iceland was to fall into the sea would the West Coast not be more affected than the East or is it that the North Sea would effectively funnel the wave making the East Coast more vunerable?

If it swamped the West that could wash out the OF – every volcanic cloud and all that :greengrin


It looks like grime times ahead for the air travel.

Can the planes not reduce their altitude over "dodgy" areas... this would mean that the plane would have to use more fuel.... but at least the world would start rotating again....???

Not the worlds no.1 avaiation entusiast, but a relevant point..


I heard on the telly last night that current airliners were designed to fly at high altitude. So to lower their altitude would mean flying less efficiently – to such an extent that trans Atlantic flights wouldn’t/might not be possible with current aircraft.

[Since90+2]

Is there any update on when the ban will be lifted?

Brother is currently stuck in Amsterdam (could be worse places to be stranded I suppose :wink:)

[lapsedhibee]

Could it effectively bring Europe to a standstill for years to come? If that were the case I assume that would have catastrophic implications for all of our economies and potentially put millions of people into poverty.

And what would it mean for Scotland given our close proximately? Would we expect mass migration?

Scaremongering pish. Get airships back on the go and problem solved. :wink:

[Chuckie]

http://redcounty.com/iceland-volcano-potential-long-term-impacts-economy-health-and-weather/38880 (http://redcounty.com/iceland-volcano-potential-long-term-impacts-economy-health-and-weather/38880)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2010/04/iceland-volcano-eruption-could-last-months/1

Grim reading....

[Sylar]

Just to add to that, I got an updated article from the Geology Journal today on Iceland's recent increase in volcanic/seismic activity:

Here is the jist of the story in New Scientist:

Link (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18786-get-ready-for-decades-of-icelandic-fireworks.html)

[Woody1985]

Pretty scary but interesting stuff!

I wonder if the governments will put in any plans now in case the bigger one does go.

[Calvin]

I was actually just having a look at the USGS seismic data for the past half hour and there are strong indications that an eruption of the larger volcano is likely. Small vents and fissures are opening up and releasing gases from it right now, but there is still a very strong possibility of it erupting.

If it were to happen, the potential impacts for US would be a lot more than just the restrictions in travel. Both volcanoes sit on the coast of Iceland - if a proper explosive eruption occurs, it will dislodge a lot of the surrounding landscape (which is a very loose glacial morraine), causing a massive displacement of land into the sea - no prizes for guessing what will happen next - such a mass displacement would trigger a huge tsunami, on a similar magnitude (possibly bigger) than the Storrega tsunami which submerged the entire East coast of Scotland under a huge volume of water, c.8000ya.

If the eruption is a similar release to the last time it erupted (similar "constant" release), then it would be interesting and potentially devastating for the entire of Europe. Imagine it - restricted travel, potential health risks from fall-out of the ash, population displacement to avoid said health risks, significant climate cooling...

Scary thought and sadly, a very real possibility.
This is absolutely fascinating - there is a very real chance of the East of Scotland being pretty much decimated.

Why haven't the media picked this up? They love a scary story.

[Chuckie]

Interesting Documentary on the Discovery Channel now..

[Chuckie]

:worried:

Jings...

[Westie1875]

:worried:

Jings...

Indeed, but not a patch on what yellowstone could do if it went off :eek:

[Calvin]

Interesting Documentary on the Discovery Channel now..

What was it called, will look to Sky+ it?

[Chuckie]

What was it called, will look to Sky+ it?

Iceland Volcano - The Next Eruption.

It's on Discovery +1 now.

[Calvin]

Iceland Volcano - The Next Eruption.

It's on Discovery +1 now.

Cheers.