volcano

Anatomy of an Icelandic volcano

April 15, 2010

I thought I’d highlight a comment from Mike the geologist, posted in response to the last post. If it’s any help – ash is pulverised rock and glass with the consistency of anything from fine sand to powder (although it often sticks together like snow flakes). Ash is produced when magma foams like the head [...]

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An amazing photo of the eruption

April 15, 2010

Everyone: I just had to post this incredible photograph of the new eruption. It was taken by a man named Ólafur Eggertsson from the farm Þorvaldseyri. It’s been making the rounds in [Icelandic] cyberspace and I don’t know the original source, so can’t post a link. It just so perfectly illustrates the beauty, magnificence and [...]

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An eruption, a flood, and some shallow apologies

April 15, 2010

What a crazy day it has been! When I got up this morning, the aftermath of the Black Report was still the Issue of the Day. I flipped through Fréttablaðið during breakfast and was pleased to note that they aren’t shying away from the misdemeanors of their owners TOO much. I haven’t seen Morgunblather since [...]

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Deadlines and a new eruption in Eyjafjallajökull

April 14, 2010

Well, details from the Black Report continue to surface and I am feeling INTENSELY frustrated that I can’t report more things about it. If there was ever a time when I wished I could devote myself exclusively to writing this blog, this would be it. Instead I am scrambling to meet a deadline for one [...]

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The eruption claims its first victims

April 7, 2010

We’ve heard it said repeatedly over the last few days: “It’s not a matter of if, but when, someone gets hurt.” This morning an extensive search was launched for three people, a man and two women, who had driven into the Fljótshlíð area* to take a look at the eruption. They were in a Honda [...]

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Our super-awesome eruption excursion

March 28, 2010

So EPI and I went and checked out the volcanic eruption on Friday evening. We decided to take a tour rather than drive up there ourselves, and chose to travel with Reykjavík Excursions since they were the first company that came to mind. The bus left at 6 pm from Reykjavík – I probably would [...]

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Ta ta strip clubs!

March 26, 2010

So, I had planned to blog about the new ban on strip clubs just passed in parliament, but the Grauniad beat me to it: While activists in Britain battle on in an attempt to regulate lapdance clubs – the number of which has been growing at an alarming rate during the last decade – Iceland [...]

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Can you say B.I.M.B.O?

March 25, 2010

So, the volcanic eruption continues apace in Fimmbörðuháls, between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers. There has been no major change since Monday and still no sign that nearby Katla is about to blow. Police have dispensed with the ban that was placed on travel to the region, but obviously are not recommending it. They emphasize that [...]

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Meltdown II

March 21, 2010

So, as far as I know there is nothing new on the eruption situation in Iceland. Just to recap: It started around midnight last night and was most forceful between 7 and 8 this morning. Since then it has subsided a bit. All residents in the area – around 450 people – were evacuated and [...]

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Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull!

March 21, 2010

So I leave the country for four days, and what happens? An eruption happens! As I mentioned about three weeks ago, Eyjafjallajökull glacier has been threatening to erupt for a while now, but the tremors seemed to be dying down, if anything. For those concerned that this might be near us [thanks Andrew!] — never [...]

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