Iceland - 2nd Volcano now erupting

[Mich the Tester]

Oddly enough that ( Geology ) is what I originally intended to study at Uni, with the intention of getting into Vulcanology When I got there I found it so mind numbingly boring I switched to IT after the first semester.

Yep, it's boring at first when you're doing all the drawings of u-shaped and v-shaped valleys and meanders and so on, but it gets interesting when you start on the volcanoes and earthquakes.

[DaveB]

If you are interested in volcanoes what's special about this one? There are many places with active volcanoes around the world, on hotspots or diverging plate boundaries.
Is the Icelandic one special in any way? Close proximity to the ocean, other factors?

It's under a glacier, so you have all sorts of interactions going on with the magma, ice and water. Thats partly why it's created such a huge ash plume. The melting ice from the glacier is pouring water onto the magma, the water is flashing to steam extreemly violently and carrying large amounts of particles up with it as it expands.

[Mich the Tester]

If you are interested in volcanoes what's special about this one? There are many places with active volcanoes around the world, on hotspots or diverging plate boundaries.
Is the Icelandic one special in any way? Close proximity to the ocean, other factors?

Under a glacier, able to melt lots of fresh water and dump it in the Atlantic, and right next door to a huge volcano that may very well blow. It´s also a chance to see the mid Atlantic ridge in action, which mostly happens under the sea where you can´t see it. This is plate tectonics live on webcams. Remember, plate tectonics is a very recent theory (20th century) and the chance to actually see it happening is bwilliant.

Also, vulcanologists just enjoy watching things go BANG. It really is a bit of a Brainiac science.

[Churchill]

And sometimes they get a bit too close.

Hmmm crispy!

[Moscow Mule]

Yep, it's boring at first when you're doing all the drawings of u-shaped and v-shaped valleys and meanders and so on, but it gets interesting when you start on the volcanoes and earthquakes.

I've got some nice pictures of Milford Sound (which isn't actually a sound) if you like.

I'll swap them for the ash cloud disappearing and me being able to get home from HK.

[OwlHoot]

Lot of people on twitter saying its a hoax and the webcam is pointed at Eeejjjyweejjjythingummy.

I'm back on the Eurostar tomorrow.

That'll probably be cancelled too - "ash on the line".

[Churchill]

Hope they start flying soon, I've got a meeting in Amsterdam on Monday and CM to dispose of for a week!

[Lumiere]

Just came from up there, there is no ash as far as the eye can see.

Maybe the whole story is a hoax.

[DodgyAgent]

Hope they start flying soon, I've got a stag night in Amsterdam on Monday and CM to dispose of for a week!

FTFY

[Churchill]

FTFY

There is no way I would have my stag-night in Amsterdam.