Iceland’s mountains are always covered in snow, called snow-

caps or glaciers.

Some glaciers can be as high as 1km!

Eyjafjallajökull(77 km2)

Eyjafjallajökull Mýrdalsjökull

Satellite picture of Southern Iceland showing EyjafjallajSatellite picture of Southern Iceland showing Eyjafjallajöökull kull and the neighbouring glacier, Mand the neighbouring glacier, Mýýrdalsjrdalsjöökullkull

Below EyjafjallajBelow Eyjafjallajöökull’s thick layer of ice is an active kull’s thick layer of ice is an active volcano. The volcano is not visible from normal volcano. The volcano is not visible from normal

satellite photography.satellite photography.

Aerial view of EyjafjallajAerial view of Eyjafjallajöökullkull

Closer aerial view of EyjafjallajCloser aerial view of Eyjafjallajöökull kull showing the glacier outlet with ice showing the glacier outlet with ice

melting to form a lakemelting to form a lake

Ground view of EyjafjallajGround view of Eyjafjallajöökull glacier outlet. kull glacier outlet. Yes – the glacier is Yes – the glacier is BLUEBLUE colour. colour.

EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull as seen from the main kull as seen from the main coastal highwaycoastal highway

Eyja-fjalla-jEyja-fjalla-jöökull:kull:

Eyja = islandEyja = islandFjalla = mountainFjalla = mountainJJöökull = glacierkull = glacier

It is pronounced: "AY-uh--fyat-luh--YOE-kuutl-uh"It is pronounced: "AY-uh--fyat-luh--YOE-kuutl-uh"

This pretty village is called This pretty village is called Skogar. It lies just south of EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull and has a total population of 25 people!kull and has a total population of 25 people!

Skogar is famous for it’s magnificent watarfall, Skogafoss.Its water comes from the melting ice from EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull.kull.

In March 2010 EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull eruptedkull erupted

It was a small fissure explosion

Tourists came flocking to check out the explosion

In April 2010 EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull’s kull’s volcano erupted for the 2volcano erupted for the 2ndnd time. time.

The 2The 2ndnd eruption spewed ash several kilometers into the atmosphere eruption spewed ash several kilometers into the atmosphere and caused Europe’s airspace to close for many daysand caused Europe’s airspace to close for many days

Skogafoss covered in ashSkogafoss covered in ash

Conditions of heavy smoke and ash in a nearby farmConditions of heavy smoke and ash in a nearby farm

Satellite picture showing volcanic ash being blown towards Great Britain

The melting glacier causedmassive flooding

Melted glacier water mixed with volcanic ash flooding down the glacier outletMelted glacier water mixed with volcanic ash flooding down the glacier outlet

Dirtied glacier water flooding the valleyDirtied glacier water flooding the valley

Aerial view of the flood from an airplaneAerial view of the flood from an airplane

Some 800 people had to be evacuatedSome 800 people had to be evacuateddue to the floodingdue to the flooding

A man takes a picture of a roadA man takes a picture of a roadthat has been washed away by floodthat has been washed away by flood

The eruption gave excellent opportunitiesThe eruption gave excellent opportunitiesfor spectacular photographyfor spectacular photography

Like magma lightningLike magma lightning

And auroraAnd aurora

The past 3 EyjafjallajThe past 3 Eyjafjallajöökull eruptions in kull eruptions in 920, 1612 & 1921 preceeded eruptions 920, 1612 & 1921 preceeded eruptions of Katla, a brother volcano located in of Katla, a brother volcano located in

the neighbouring Mthe neighbouring Mýýrdalsjrdalsjöökull glacier kull glacier whose underground magma network is whose underground magma network is

connected to Eyjafjallajconnected to Eyjafjallajöökull kull

Mýrdalsjökull

Location of Katla in relation Location of Katla in relation to Eyjafjallajökull

Eyjafjallajökull

Katla volcano(buried beneath glacier)

Katla is much more active and known for its powerful subglacial eruptions and its large magma chamber. It

erupts every 40-80 years. The last eruption was in 1918, and the EyjafjallajEyjafjallajöökull eruption has (on 20kull eruption has (on 20thth April 2010) April 2010)

triggered Icelandic triggered Icelandic President Olafur Grimsson to say,

“the time for Katla to erupt is coming close ... we [Iceland] have prepared ... it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over the world to start planning for the eventual

Katla eruption”

THE QUESTIONTHE QUESTIONIS:IS:

Will you be there whenWill you be there whenKatla eventually erupts?Katla eventually erupts?