2010 Icelandic Volcano Eruption

Compiled by John McDaris, SERC.

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Visualizations

Related Links

Cutting Edge: Volcano Visualizations

Animation of the ash plume from Icelandic eruption: This animation from the European Space Agency models the dispersion of the ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull based on tracing SO₂ concentrations measured by satellite.
NASA Observes Ash Plume of Icelandic Volcano: This page from NASA displays various imagery and information about the ash plume from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano.
Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Iceland: These images and articles from NASA's Earth Observatory start tracking the Iceland volcano's ash cloud on March 24, 2010.
The Big Picture: Eyjafjallajökull: This photo gallery from The Boston Globe has some truly amazing photos taken in the shadow of this eruption.

Information and News Reports

Ash causing more than travel woes: This video news report from CNN highlights some of the effects that the eruption Eyjafjallajökull is having across Iceland.
Satellite Data Improve Aviation Safety: This article from the European Space Agency discusses how tracking volcanic ash clouds via satellite can help avoid dangers to airplane travel.
Iceland's Volcanic Eruption and its Aftermath: This page from National Public Radio aggregates their stories and broadcasts related to Eyjafjallajökull.
Global Volcanism Project: Eyjafjallajökull: This set of pages on Eyjafjallajökull is part of the Global Volcanism Project of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Extensive descriptive information and imagery is available as well as information on regional volcanism.
How Volcanoes Can Change the World: This opinion piece from CNN explores other historical eruptions in Iceland, their effects then, and what the effects of similar eruptions would be in today's world. The author, Rosanne D'Arrigo, is a senior research scientist at the Tree-Ring Laboratory of the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory.
Iceland Prepares for Second, More Devastating Volcanic Eruption: This article from the Times of London explores the historical connections between Eyjafjallajökull and Katla and some of the effects during past eruptions of Katla.

• The University of Iceland's Institute of Earth Sciences and Nordic Volcanological Center are posting the latest science and information about the eruption on their Eruption in Eyjafjallajökull page.
• Wikipedia has pages of information on Eyjafjallajökull as well as Katla.
• The Iceland Met Office has published a List of Volcanic Eruptions in Iceland since 1902.

 

Teaching Activities and Materials

• Teach the Earth Site Guide for Volcanoes - This Site Guide points to various parts of the Teach the Earth portal that deal with volcanoes.
• Volcano Visualizations - This set of visualizations can help students and faculty explore aspects of volcanoes.
• Using online volcano monitoring data in college and university courses: The Volcano Exploration Project - Pu'u' 'O'o - This 2010 workshop is going to generate a set of example of how to integrate online volcano data into the undergraduate classroom.
• Hydrogeomorphic and ecological responses to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington - This vignette explores the after effects of the eruption on Mount St. Helens on its surroundings in terms of groundwater and ecology.
• Fire and Ice: Identify and compare volcanic and glacial features on land and seafloor - Bathymetry and topography are used to identify and compare glacial and volcanic features of the Sand Point area, Alaska.
• Lab Using Volcano Scenarios: Hazard Maps and Communicating Risk - This is a lab activity in which small groups of students work with maps, rocks, photographs of volcanic deposits, and textual data to construct a hazard map and a risk communication plan for a specific volcano. Each group is assigned a "volcano scenario," which is based on real volcanoes.
• What is the Volume of the 1992 Eruption of Cerro Negro Volcano, Nicaragua? - Students build a spreadsheet to calculate the volume a tephra deposit using an exponential-thinning model.
• Iceland Lavas Lab - Students link volcanic rock petrology (hand samples and thin sections) with volcanic rock analytical data to hypothesize on crystal fractionation/accumulation control on lava composition.
• Variation Diagrams and the Evolution of Thingmuli Lavas, Iceland - Students construct variation diagrams and then explain the trends they see for various elements.