Iceland’s Katla Volcano Eruption Imminent: Could Surpass Last Year’s Eruption

International Business Times ^ | 10-14-2011

[blam]

Iceland’s Katla Volcano Eruption Imminent: Could Surpass Last Year’s Eruption

October 14, 2011 2:16 PM EST

Iceland's Katla Volcano, which has a magma chamber that is ten times the size of Eyjafjallajokull, is showing signs of an imminent eruption.

Experts are saying that should Katla erupt, the consequences could be disastrous for Europe as it could spew an ash cloud that will turn day into night. In comparison to last year's Eyjafjallajokull's eruption which grounded planes last year and cost the aviation industry nearly $2 billion dollars, Katla's could wreak havoc across Europe.
The last time Katla erupted in 1918 it spewed ash for more than a month, killed off livestock and flooded surrounding farmlands from the melted ice-sheet that covered the volcano.

Now, scientists have detected small earthquakes around Katla and seismologists are warning the population to brace for the eruption. The earthquakes have been steadily growing in strength, just last week a magnitude 4 earthquake was detected. Katla usually has a large eruption twice in a century. It is long overdue for another one, seismologists say.

"It is definitely showing signs of restlessness," said Pall Einarsson, a professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland.

Government officials already have evacuation procedures in place for communities near Katla but should the volcano erupt, people living in those areas will only have an hour to escape before the volcano erupts.

The aviation industry meanwhile remains optimistic that an eruption wouldn't put airlines out of business.

"It would take a closure greater than last May's to put people out of business," said David Henderson, spokesman for the Brussels-based Association of European Airlines.

"Everything depends on the magnitude of the eruption."

Ordinary Icelanders remain unruffled about any imminent eruption. Volcanoes have done more good than harm in Iceland being the source of cheap geothermal energy that citizens use every day. Until Katla decides to blow, Iceland is going to play a waiting game with nature's fieriest phenomenon.

[blam]

"My friend had been in the Navy and I think he was stationed in Iceland for a while. He fell in love with the girls who he described as the most beautiful in the world."

The yDNA (male), R1b Viking men stopped off in Ireland and took the best looking women to Iceland with them as either wives or slaves. (They're still there to this day)

Those R1b guys are my people.

Something else you didn't know about Ireland....All the Polar bears in the whole word can trace their mtDNA (female) to a Brown Bear female in Ireland 18,000 years ago.

[bigheadfred]

I cannot see the word “Iceland” without thinking of one of my oldest friends. This guy had a way with girls which was unbelievable absolutely incredible.

Thanks so much for this story. I have a large collection of anecdotes about Icelanders and this is just the thing that interests me. Who knew it would show on FR, though?

TTIWWP

[Cold Heart]

And the 9.0 subduction earthquake on the Weat Coast.
It’ll all happen in the winter during a flood followed by an ice storm and I’ll be on the wrong side of the mountains from my home. Ok and at night, in the dark, the 100’ tsunami.

[blam]

"And the 9.0 subduction earthquake on the Weat Coast. It’ll all happen in the winter during a flood followed by an ice storm and I’ll be on the wrong side of the mountains from my home. Ok and at night, in the dark, the 100’ tsunami."

Back in my day...we did all that, had a polar shift and an asteroid impact.

[archy]

I'm hoping that's going to be the cover art on your next book....

Okay, you may have to change the spear into a canoe paddle or somethin' sailory...no prob.

[archy]

Just what we need - the Canary Islands to blow and Iceland to explode. Atlantic Tsunamis R Us.

Been there, done that.

[Travis McGee]

I only post her because some artist named “Switchblade” drew her, and named her Katla. So when you google Katla, she shows up. I don’t know if Switchblade created Katla before or after he heard of the volcano, but it was before Katla was famous in the USA at any rate.

[archy]

Katla is at least easier to spell than Eyjafjallajokull.

Oh yeah? That's easy for you to say....

[archy]

I only post her because some artist named “Switchblade” drew her, and named her Katla.

I now know what the name's going to be for my next puppy if she's female.

Why do I name my dogs after mountains, you ask? Caucasian Ovcharka

[Travis McGee]

Is that a yeti, a polar bear, or a canine?

[archy]

Is that a yeti, a polar bear, or a canine?

All canine. Not bear or Yeti, most aren't white.

Guess what they use for chewtoys?