Iceland's farmers try to save herds from toxic ash ( Eyjafjallajokull )

ap ^ | Apr 18, 2010 | CARLO PIOVANO

[george76]

In Europe, the volcanic ash danger travels at high altitudes, but for Iceland's farmers the problem is very much on the ground.

Farmers across the region where the volcano erupted this week under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier have been scrambling to protect their herds from inhaling or ingesting the ash, which can cause internal bleeding, long-term bone damage and teeth loss.

Near Skogar, south of the volcano, the ash blew down from the mountain, blotting out the sunlight and covering everything - pastures, animals and humans - in a thick, gray paste.

[knarf]

I'm always ashamed when I realize I have a one or two track mind, when so many other factors are involved in most any situation.

How does this play out with humans?

[george76]

Pompeii comes to mind.

Yellowstone is due to erupt ?

Among many other options.

[smokingfrog]

[UCANSEE2]

How does this play out with humans?

Not well. Not well at all.

[UCANSEE2]

The other (more likely) options are that this volcano’s BIG BROTHER (Katla) will go off, as it has each time Eyjafjallajokull went off in the past.

Recent reports are that the volcanic activity at Eyjafjallajokull are diminishing somewhat.

No one really knows what will happen.

[darth]

If the ash clouds persist I wonder what effect it will have on temps and growing seasons up North?

Buy Southern farmland! Wheat futures would be an interesting bet as well.

[george76]

First they decide not to pay back their loans and then they block Europe with their ash

[george76]

I would not go there since I can not pronounce Eyjafjallajokull

[Skywalk]

I was thinking of going to Iceland this summer but it appears that is off the itinerary. :(

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Read about the Year Without a Summer which was caused by the eruption of Mt. Tambora in Indonesia in April 1815, a year earlier. It was the largest eruption in recorded history and launched 38 cubic miles of ash into the atmosphere. That's a cube of ash 3.4 miles on each side! Massive crop failures resulted.

The amount of ash being thrown up in Iceland is very small compared to Tambora, Pinatubo and St. Helens. But it is in the Northern Hemisphere. Maybe we'll see the effect next year.

[TruthConquers]

The western side of Iceland, including the capitol, are free of ash. Only the east side is covered, less than half the island. Check the various ash maps showing the path of the ash fall. But I do not know where the Katla volcano is, that is the one that is likely to go next, given past history.

[Skywalk]

That’s my concern, that and the air travel if that Katla goes off.

I should have gone a couple years ago when I got the passport to do so. It would have been a shoestring budget affair but at least I would have done it. lol

[TruthConquers]

There is an Icelandic festival in Canada every first weekend in August near Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is held at a town called Gimili on Lake Winnipeg. That would be the closest I know of. The usual parade, shiners, Amma’s Kitchen where you can sample Icelandic food. My mom was born in this area. Still lots of people of Icelandic descent live there. They came during a famine in Iceland from the 1880’s. That would be the next closest I know of. No hot springs or glaciers, though. Heckla Island is near, a local resort that I went to long ago.

[Skywalk]

Yeah, that’s the issue. I want to go to Iceland for its unique environments (though the pretty women would be a bonus ha) for photography, video, etc. I had some great shots from my trip through Yellowstone, Grand Teton NP and I can only imagine the photos I’d have from a trip around Iceland.

There are some Icelandic horses I can ride in the states, which was one of my other goals but I am just going to have to postpone it until this clears up, I guess.

[TruthConquers]

I did think the festival was a long shot, but not generally known about. Good luck in the future, then. My hubby, too, loves to take pictures. The pictures from Iceland would be spectacular.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks george76.

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[RebelTex]

LOL - here’s a thread on that (FR has a thread on EVERYTHING, heheh).

Video on How to Pronounce the Name of Iceland’s “Eyjafjallajökull” Volcano

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2495803/posts

Good Luck - I gave up, LOL.

[Brugmansian]

The 1783 eruption in Iceland ended up killing a fifth of the population. Fluorine poisoning ( The Mist Hardship) accounted for a lot of it. That is the eruption Ben Franklin saw the results of in Paris.