With European airlines taking a massive blow to their profit margins after as a giant cloud of volcanic ash has grounded tens of thousands of flights this week, people are wondering about possible changes to the Earth’s atmosphere and what to expect next from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano.
The volcano located on Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull glacier has a history of long lasting eruptions and with over thirty more active volcanoes in the country, scientists are concerned about the future. Another troublesome factor in this scenario is that the magma deposited by the volcano becomes ash after being cooled by the icy landscape.
Experts outlined three scenarios for the volcanoes, described in a the Wall Street Journal report, that represent the good, the bad, and the ugly possibilities that await the people of Iceland and Europe.
The most comforting scenario is that the magma from the volcano ceases to flow putting a stop to everything or that the ice surrounding the area closest to the eruption melts away eliminating the possibility of more ash.
Another projection is that there is a repeat of the volcano’s eruption in 1821 where it slowly released magma for 13 months. This possible scenario could really be problematic for European airports who have already suffered heavy losses from the existing ash cloud that could now make its way to the U.S.
The most frightening prediction involves increased activity from more than 30 active Icelandic volcanoes that would cause severe melting of ice used for living in Iceland, a large amount of deaths, and horrific air quality that would affect travel as well as the ongoing concern for global warming.
Other experts are not only discussing the future of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull glacier but they are taking a look at the cause of the eruption as well.
Larry West, an award-winning environmental reporter answered the question “Did Global Warming Cause Iceland Volcano to Erupt?” for About.com. His answer is “No.” Another possible cause of the eruption, he said, could be shifts in the surrounding tectonic plates but nothing has been confirmed at this time.
The ash cloud from Iceland’s volcano is starting to lift in Europe and flights have been restarted. There has been speculation about the possibility of the ash cloud traveling to the U.S. but no substantial evidence has been collected, nor has the issue been addressed by the National Department of Homeland Security as a threat to American security.
Scientists seem to believe that volcanoes serve a positive role in the bigger picture for life on Earth as portions of livable land mass have been created by volcanoes. These places such as Hawaii have very rich soil that produces exceptional crops. Some specialists also note that with the limited knowledge of scientists concerning the Earth’s core there is no way to tell what role volcanic eruption play for the environment under the Earth’s core.
With all the modern technology at our finger tips, one might expect scientists to have a clearer picture of what is going on in Iceland, but only time it seems, will reveal what is in store for our global community.
The volcano located on Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull glacier has a history of long lasting eruptions and with over thirty more active volcanoes in the country, scientists are concerned about the future. Another troublesome factor in this scenario is that the magma deposited by the volcano becomes ash after being cooled by the icy landscape.
Experts outlined three scenarios for the volcanoes, described in a the Wall Street Journal report, that represent the good, the bad, and the ugly possibilities that await the people of Iceland and Europe.
The most comforting scenario is that the magma from the volcano ceases to flow putting a stop to everything or that the ice surrounding the area closest to the eruption melts away eliminating the possibility of more ash.
Another projection is that there is a repeat of the volcano’s eruption in 1821 where it slowly released magma for 13 months. This possible scenario could really be problematic for European airports who have already suffered heavy losses from the existing ash cloud that could now make its way to the U.S.
The most frightening prediction involves increased activity from more than 30 active Icelandic volcanoes that would cause severe melting of ice used for living in Iceland, a large amount of deaths, and horrific air quality that would affect travel as well as the ongoing concern for global warming.
Other experts are not only discussing the future of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull glacier but they are taking a look at the cause of the eruption as well.
Larry West, an award-winning environmental reporter answered the question “Did Global Warming Cause Iceland Volcano to Erupt?” for About.com. His answer is “No.” Another possible cause of the eruption, he said, could be shifts in the surrounding tectonic plates but nothing has been confirmed at this time.
The ash cloud from Iceland’s volcano is starting to lift in Europe and flights have been restarted. There has been speculation about the possibility of the ash cloud traveling to the U.S. but no substantial evidence has been collected, nor has the issue been addressed by the National Department of Homeland Security as a threat to American security.
Scientists seem to believe that volcanoes serve a positive role in the bigger picture for life on Earth as portions of livable land mass have been created by volcanoes. These places such as Hawaii have very rich soil that produces exceptional crops. Some specialists also note that with the limited knowledge of scientists concerning the Earth’s core there is no way to tell what role volcanic eruption play for the environment under the Earth’s core.
With all the modern technology at our finger tips, one might expect scientists to have a clearer picture of what is going on in Iceland, but only time it seems, will reveal what is in store for our global community.
