Showing posts with label Iceland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iceland. Show all posts
Monday, December 18, 2023
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Iceland's Katla Volcano Monitored After Seismic Activity Increases
PAISLEY DODDS and GUDJON HELGASON 09/ 6/11 06:47 PM ET 
REYKJAVIK, Iceland — A surge of small earthquakes has been reported around Iceland's Katla volcano, but scientists said Tuesday there is no immediate concern that the increased seismic activity will trigger a dangerous eruption.
Although earthquakes around Katla are common, an increase in cluster earthquakes is not.
"It's one of the most feared volcanos, so we're closely monitoring it," said Pall Einarsson of the University of Iceland. "That said, it's normal for earthquakes to be detected around Katla. What's a bit unusual is that we're seeing swarms of small earthquakes, some occurring every 10 minutes or so."
After flying over the area to monitor the situation Tuesday evening, scientists said they could not yet determine what caused the increased seismic activity. Although they detected signs that Katla was preparing for an eruption, they also emphasized that the volcano had also seen similar activity without erupting before.
Nevertheless, "there are signs of Katla being more active now than in the past few years so there is every reason to keep an eye on her," said Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, a professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland, after the flight.
Iceland sits on a large volcanic hot spot in the Atlantic's mid-oceanic ridge. Eruptions, common throughout Iceland's history, are often triggered by seismic activity when the Earth's plates move and when magma from deep underground pushes its way to the surface.
Like earthquakes, predicting the timing of volcanic eruptions is an imprecise science.
Last year's eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano forced hundreds of people to be evacuated and paralyzed international air travel for weeks because of a hovering ash cloud.
And history has shown that when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupts, Katla – located under the massive Myrdalsjokull icecap – isn't far behind.
Katla, which threatens disastrous flooding if its ice cap melts, typically awakens every 80 years or so, and last erupted in 1918.
Activity around Katla started to increase around July but has since grown even stronger. The strongest earthquake detected so far has been a 3.0 magnitude. There also was flooding that wiped out a bridge in July.
Like people, each volcano has a different personality of sorts, says Einarsson.
"We look at the behavior, try to analyze patterns and then try to come up with an explanation," says Einarsson. "This is a bit difficult to interpret so far, but it's correct to say that it signals some sort of activity in the volcano and some sort of magna intrusions are probably taking place."
Geologists also are worried about the Hekla volcano, which unlike Katla, is not covered by a glacier and produces little seismic activity.
During the Middle Ages, Icelanders called the Hekla volcano, the country's most active, the "Gateway to Hell," believing that souls were dragged into the fire below.
"If we saw earthquakes like this in Hekla, we would immediately signal a warning sign," Einarsson said.
Another one of Iceland's volcanos proved particularly deadly in 1783.
When Laki erupted, it freed gases that turned into smog. The smog floated across the jet stream, changing weather patterns. Many died from gas poisoning in the British Isles. Crop production fell in western Europe. Famine spread.
"Everyone has their eyes on a big Katla eruption," said Andy Russell with Newcastle University's Earth Surface Processes Research Group, who travels frequently to Iceland for research. "You can never say never, but I don't think there's need for alarm right now."
Russell said past Katla eruptions have caused floods the size of the Amazon and sent boulders as big as houses tumbling down valleys and roads. Flooding occurred within 45 minutes of the eruption, he said.
Iceland is one of the few places in the world where a mid-ocean ridge actually rises above sea level. Many volcanic eruptions along the ocean basin often go undetected because they can't be easily seen.
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Dodds contributed to this report from London.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Air France, Lufthansa Test Flights as Ban Is Extended (Update3)
By Gregory Viscusi and Omar R. Valdimarsson
April 18 (Bloomberg) -- Air France-KLM Group and Deutsche Lufthansa AG were among carriers saying they managed to fly aircraft without suffering damage as governments across Europe extended a flight ban after Iceland’s volcanic eruption last week caused the grounding of 63,000 flights.
Air France’s KLM Dutch unit operated nine test flights after a technical inspection following one late yesterday in Dutch airspace revealed that the quality of the atmosphere is “in order.” Air France said its engineers found no visual impact on a test flight from Paris to Toulouse. Lufthansa sent 10 aircraft from Munich to Frankfurt to reposition its fleet yesterday. All arrived safely.
“We asked the Frankfurt crew to check any damage with the aircraft and the windows,” Wolfgang Weber, a spokesman at Lufthansa, Europe’s second-largest carrier, said in a telephone interview. “There wasn’t even the smallest scratch.”
About 17 percent of 24,000 flights that usually cross Europe’s airspace on a Sunday will fly today as airports from Dublin to Moscow are closed, according to Eurocontrol. While the Brussels-based group forecasts as much as half of Europe’s airspace may be “risk free” tomorrow, U.K. Transport Minister Andrew Adonis said in televised comments that flights across northern Europe won’t be safe in the next 24 hours, citing advice given by the country’s Met Office.
Air Berlin, BA
Volcanic ash can cause jet engines to fail by melting and then congealing in the turbines. Test flights so far have shown no dangerous particles in European airspace following the eruption, according to airline executives.
Flights were grounded after April 14 when an eruption at the 1,666-meter (5,466-foot) Eyjafjallajökull volcano spewed dust across Europe’s airspace. The disruptions are costing carriers $200 million a day, the International Air Transport Association said.
Air Berlin Plc ran two test flights yesterday from Munich to Dusseldorf and from Nuremberg to Hamburg without problems, flying at the permitted 3,000 meters, the carrier said in a statement.
“We’re puzzled why the results of the Lufthansa and Air Berlin test flights had no influence on safety authorities’ decision criteria,” Air Berlin CEO Joachim Hunold said.
British Airways Plc, Europe’s third-largest carrier, said it operating a test flight today from Heathrow Airport to assess the quality of U.K. airspace. The carrier has canceled all flights to and from London through tomorrow.
Assess the Impact
The European Commission said it will set up a group to assess the impact of the ash cloud on the travel industry and the economy. Spain called a video conference for European Union transport ministers tomorrow to discuss emergency plans.
U.K. airspace will remain restricted until at least 7 p.m. local time tomorrow, the country’s flight-control authority, National Air Traffic Services, said.
“Conditions around the movement of the layers of the volcanic ash cloud over the U.K remain dynamic,” NATS said in a statement. “NATS is maintaining close dialogue with the Met Office and with the U.K.’s safety regulator, the CAA, in respect of the international civil aviation policy we follow in applying restrictions to use of airspace.”
In Norway, the airspace north of Bergen airport until Berlevag was re-opened, air controller Avinor said on its Web site. The airspace over southern Norway may be cleared in the next six to 12 hours, Avinor said.
Sweden opened the air space north of Soderhamn, including Kiruna airport, according to the LFV flight controller. The rest of the air space remains shut, it said.
Italy Reopens Tomorrow
Italy will reopen all its airspace at 7 a.m. tomorrow after conditions in the north of the country improved, ENAC, the nation’s civil aviation authority, said.
Germany’s DFS flight safety authority eased a ban at some airports today. Still, all the country’s airports will shut again by 8 p.m., with Berlin-Tegel and Berlin-Schoenefeld closing at 10 p.m., a spokeswoman at the agency said. The closings will remain until at least 2 a.m. tomorrow.
France’s civil aviation authority banned flying in the previously unaffected south of the country today. French airspace and all airports in the country will remain closed until at least 8 a.m. tomorrow.
Spain, Greece, Turkey
Airspace in northern Spain was also shut. Rome, Madrid, Athens and Istanbul were the only major European airports still in operation.
The Netherlands extended the closure of its airspace until 8 p.m. local time, and Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is closed until at least that time.
“We hope to receive permission as soon as possible after that to start up our operation and to transport our passengers to their destinations,” KLM Chief Executive Officer Peter Hartman said in a statement.
Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region canceled most Europe- bound flights, with Qantas Airways Ltd. saying it won’t fly to European destinations before April 20 and can’t confirm when service on those routes will resume.
Carriers including Air China Ltd., Japan Airlines Corp., Thai Airways International Pcl, Korean Air Lines Co. and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. shut down service to Europe, while Singapore’s Changi Airport reported cancellation of 34 arrivals and departures, including Singapore Airlines Ltd. flights to nine European destinations.
Haraldur Eiriksson, a meteorologist at the Icelandic meteorological office, predicted little changes in the ash pattern in Europe until at least through April 23.
‘Ongoing Impact’
“This could have an ongoing impact on European air travel,” he said. “The forecast hasn’t changed, although the height the volcano is spewing the ash into has decreased from 5 to 6 kilometers to less than 3 kilometers, and now it can’t be seen on our radars. Due to cloudy weather conditions at the site of the volcano, we can’t say what the exact height of the ash is.”
Volcanic eruptions may continue for months and curtail European air traffic, said Sigrun Hreinsdottir, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. “It could erupt, pause for a few weeks, and then possibly erupt again.”
The last eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in December 1821 continued until January 1823. The current blast has sent ash to as high as 7 kilometers (4.5 miles), according to Gudrun Larsen, a vulcanologist at the University of Iceland. The magma had to pierce 200 meters of ice before reaching the air, she said.
“We really don’t know if this eruption is going to last as long as the previous one, but we can’t say it’s not a possibility,” Larsen said by telephone.
Funeral Plans Canceled
The volcanic ash cloud also led world leaders, including Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to cancel plans to attend the funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who died with 95 others in an April 10 plane crash.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in a government jet which had clearance to fly at low altitudes.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in a government jet which had clearance to fly at low altitudes.
Airline stocks, including British Airways, Lufthansa, and Ryanair Holdings Plc, fell April 16 as fleets were grounded. El Al Israel Airlines, which has canceled all European flights except to Madrid, Rome and Athens, fell the most in 17 months on the Tel Aviv exchange today.
Exports of Italian products such as mozzarella cheese, flowers, fruit and vegetables worth 10 million euros ($13.5 million) are blocked, the country’s Coldiretti agricultural group said in a statement.
Diverted Air Freight
Deutsche Post AG’s DHL unit has diverted air freight to southern European airports including Bergamo in Italy to maintain services. DHL has closed its Leipzig-Halle freight hub where at least 50 aircraft land each week, carrying up to 200,000 deliveries, spokesman Stefan Hess said. DHL switched to rail and road for deliveries in northern Europe April 16.
Because of the wind direction, Iceland’s Keflavik airport is open, and North American flights are running on schedule.
OAO Aeroflot, Russia’s largest air carrier, is flying to North America via the North Pole to avoid volcano ash over Europe, Transportation Minister Igor Levitin told Prime Minister Putin at a meeting today, Interfax said.
The U.S. Air Transport Association said yesterday that 282 of 337, or 84 percent, of the day’s non-stop flights between the U.S. and Europe were canceled.
Delta Air Lines Inc., the world’s largest carrier, scrapped 97 flights today to and from Europe, spokesman Anthony Black said. Another 49 flights have been grounded for tomorrow. AMR Corp.’s American Airlines has canceled 30 flights to Europe so far today, according to spokeswoman Andrea Huguely. American is able to operate flights to and from Spain and Italy, she said.
Chicago Cancellations
Chicago’s Department of Aviation, which operates O’Hare International Airport, Midway International Airport and Gary- Chicago International Airport, said 14 flights bound for Chicago from northern Europe were canceled today.
The eruption began on March 20 with a lava flow on the eastern flank of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, according to the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland. After a lull, it resumed early on April 14, directly under the icecap that covers most of the mountain.
To contact the reporters on this story: Gregory Viscusi in Paris at gviscusi@bloomberg.net; Omar R. Valdimarsson in Reykjavik valdimarsson@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: April 18, 2010 16:48 EDT
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Saturday, March 20, 2010
Hundreds evacuated after Iceland volcano erupts
Agence France-Presse
Published: Sunday, March 21, 2010
Reuters Iceland is no stranger to volcanic eruptions, considering the island is relatively young and geologically active. Pictured above is a video grab showing smoke billowing from a volcano on Nov. 4, 2004, ...
REYKJAVIK -- A volcano in the area of the Eyjafallajoekull glacier in southern Iceland erupted early Sunday, forcing more than 500 people in its vicinity to evacuate their homes, authorities said.
"We estimate that no one is in danger in the area but we have started an evacuation plan and between 500 and 600 people are being evacuated" Sigurgeir Gudmundsson of the Icelandic civil protections department told AFP.
RUV public radio reported that three Iceland-bound Icelandair flights, out of Boston, Orlando and Seattle, had been ordered to turn back to the United States.
It said the eruption took place shortly after midnight and that local residents were being evacuated because of the risk of flooding caused by melting glacier waters.
"Ash has already begun to fall in Fljotshlid and people in the surrounding area have reported seeing bright lights emanating from the glacier," RUV said on its website, advising area residents to follow developments closely.
"There is currently no sign of flooding, but it could be imminent according to experts," it added.
"It is not clear exactly where the eruption is taking place but it is being investigated."
A volcano in the area of the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier last erupted in 1821 and 1823.
Agence France-Presse
Published: Sunday, March 21, 2010
Reuters Iceland is no stranger to volcanic eruptions, considering the island is relatively young and geologically active. Pictured above is a video grab showing smoke billowing from a volcano on Nov. 4, 2004, ...
REYKJAVIK -- A volcano in the area of the Eyjafallajoekull glacier in southern Iceland erupted early Sunday, forcing more than 500 people in its vicinity to evacuate their homes, authorities said.
"We estimate that no one is in danger in the area but we have started an evacuation plan and between 500 and 600 people are being evacuated" Sigurgeir Gudmundsson of the Icelandic civil protections department told AFP.
RUV public radio reported that three Iceland-bound Icelandair flights, out of Boston, Orlando and Seattle, had been ordered to turn back to the United States.
It said the eruption took place shortly after midnight and that local residents were being evacuated because of the risk of flooding caused by melting glacier waters.
"Ash has already begun to fall in Fljotshlid and people in the surrounding area have reported seeing bright lights emanating from the glacier," RUV said on its website, advising area residents to follow developments closely.
"There is currently no sign of flooding, but it could be imminent according to experts," it added.
"It is not clear exactly where the eruption is taking place but it is being investigated."
A volcano in the area of the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier last erupted in 1821 and 1823.
Agence France-Presse
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
Pelosi Tells Illegal Immigrants That Work Site Raids are Un-American
March 14: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Caif., tells an audience that included illegal immigrants that enforcement of America's immigration law is "un-American." (FNC)
Pelosi Tells Illegal Immigrants That Work Site Raids are Un-American
The speaker of the House told a group of both legal and illegal immigrants recently that enforcement of immigration laws in the United States is "un-American."
By William Lajeunesse
FOXNews.com
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
EXCLUSIVE: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently told a group of both legal and illegal immigrants and their families that enforcement of existing immigration laws, as currently practiced, is "un-American."
The speaker, condemning raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, referred to the immigrants she was addressing as "very, very patriotic."
"Who in this country would not want to change a policy of kicking in doors in the middle of the night and sending a parent away from their families?" Pelosi told a mostly Hispanic gathering at St. Anthony's Church in San Francisco.
Video: Click here to view the video of Pelosi speaking.
"It must be stopped....What value system is that? I think it's un-American. I think it's un-American."
Pelosi said she was invited to the church by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., as part of his 17-city, cross-country tour called United Families, which he says is intended to put a human face on the immigration debate.
"We think that families are the cornerstone of our society and our nation, and an immigration system should preserve those families, not destroy them," Gutierrez told FOX News Capitol Hill Producer Chad Pergram on Tuesday.
The congressman is collecting petitions that ask President Obama to "stop the immigration raids and deportations that are tearing our marriages, families and children apart." He is expected to present those petitions when Hispanic members of Congress meet with the President Wednesday.
Click here for more video from FOX News.
On Saturday night, Pelosi joined Gutierrez before a cheering crowd at St. Anthony's chanting, "Si se puede," or "Yes we can."
Referring to work site enforcement actions by ICE agents, Pelosi said, "We have to have a change in policy and practice and again ... I can't say enough, the raids must end. The raids must end.
"You are special people. You're here on a Saturday night to take responsibility for our country's future. That makes you very, very patriotic."
"I was embarrassed by what she said," said Rick Oltman, with Californians for Population Stabilization, an anti-illegal immigrant group. "Exhorting illegal aliens for taking responsibility for our country's future.... In fact, sitting there in the audience.... I really resented that comment."
"I think it was pandering to the crowd but also insulting to American citizens who consider themselves to be patriotic, who obey the rule of law," said Oltman, who shot a video of the rally.
For more on this story, watch Special Report With Bret Baier at 6 p.m. EDT on FOX News Channel.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/18/pelosi-tells-illegal-immigrants-work-site-raids-american/
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Pelosi Tells Illegal Immigrants That Work Site Raids are Un-American
The speaker of the House told a group of both legal and illegal immigrants recently that enforcement of immigration laws in the United States is "un-American."
By William Lajeunesse
FOXNews.com
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
EXCLUSIVE: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently told a group of both legal and illegal immigrants and their families that enforcement of existing immigration laws, as currently practiced, is "un-American."
The speaker, condemning raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, referred to the immigrants she was addressing as "very, very patriotic."
"Who in this country would not want to change a policy of kicking in doors in the middle of the night and sending a parent away from their families?" Pelosi told a mostly Hispanic gathering at St. Anthony's Church in San Francisco.
Video: Click here to view the video of Pelosi speaking.
"It must be stopped....What value system is that? I think it's un-American. I think it's un-American."
Pelosi said she was invited to the church by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., as part of his 17-city, cross-country tour called United Families, which he says is intended to put a human face on the immigration debate.
"We think that families are the cornerstone of our society and our nation, and an immigration system should preserve those families, not destroy them," Gutierrez told FOX News Capitol Hill Producer Chad Pergram on Tuesday.
The congressman is collecting petitions that ask President Obama to "stop the immigration raids and deportations that are tearing our marriages, families and children apart." He is expected to present those petitions when Hispanic members of Congress meet with the President Wednesday.
Click here for more video from FOX News.
On Saturday night, Pelosi joined Gutierrez before a cheering crowd at St. Anthony's chanting, "Si se puede," or "Yes we can."
Referring to work site enforcement actions by ICE agents, Pelosi said, "We have to have a change in policy and practice and again ... I can't say enough, the raids must end. The raids must end.
"You are special people. You're here on a Saturday night to take responsibility for our country's future. That makes you very, very patriotic."
"I was embarrassed by what she said," said Rick Oltman, with Californians for Population Stabilization, an anti-illegal immigrant group. "Exhorting illegal aliens for taking responsibility for our country's future.... In fact, sitting there in the audience.... I really resented that comment."
"I think it was pandering to the crowd but also insulting to American citizens who consider themselves to be patriotic, who obey the rule of law," said Oltman, who shot a video of the rally.
For more on this story, watch Special Report With Bret Baier at 6 p.m. EDT on FOX News Channel.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/18/pelosi-tells-illegal-immigrants-work-site-raids-american/
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P.S. Bolds and Highlights added for emphasis.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Left wing government likely for Iceland
Left wing government likely for Iceland
Published: Tuesday 27 January 2009 13:39 UTC
Last updated: Tuesday 27 January 2009 13:39 UTC
Iceland looks likely to gain a left wing government. President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has called on the leader of the Social Democratic Alliance to form a cabinet with the Left-Green party. The minority cabinet would then govern with the support of the Progressive Party.
The leader of the Social Democrats, Ingibjorg Gisladottir, believes she can fulfil the president's request and expects to complete talks with the other parties by the weekend.
Former Prime Minister Geir Haarde resigned on Monday after his Independence Party's coalition with the Social Democrats broke down. The coalition came under enormous pressure when the credit crisis led to the collapse of Iceland's economy.
Source: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6151737/Left-wing-government-likely-for-Iceland
Published: Tuesday 27 January 2009 13:39 UTC
Last updated: Tuesday 27 January 2009 13:39 UTC
Iceland looks likely to gain a left wing government. President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has called on the leader of the Social Democratic Alliance to form a cabinet with the Left-Green party. The minority cabinet would then govern with the support of the Progressive Party.
The leader of the Social Democrats, Ingibjorg Gisladottir, believes she can fulfil the president's request and expects to complete talks with the other parties by the weekend.
Former Prime Minister Geir Haarde resigned on Monday after his Independence Party's coalition with the Social Democrats broke down. The coalition came under enormous pressure when the credit crisis led to the collapse of Iceland's economy.
Source: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6151737/Left-wing-government-likely-for-Iceland
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