The scientists investigating the potential for eruption of Katla have slammed scaremongering by the Media and stressed they have not said an eruption is imminent.

The scientists investigating the potential for eruption of Katla have slammed scaremongering by the Media and stressed they have not said an eruption is imminent.

 

Indeed, it is scaremongering nonsense. The paper itself is very interesting and refers to the (larger than expected) carbon dioxide emissions from the volcano in recent years. I think it highlights the potential of a large eruption and doesn’t really say that one is in any way imminent just that the volcano is still very much active and building towards its next eruption at some stage in the future.

I totally agree with both of the above posts.

Sometimes media can be very annoying whilst struggling to make a big story. Made a sucker out of me a few times.

I've been following Iceland met Office on a regular basis for quite some time..No panic there..They do have a good grip on what's going on.

 

Indeed, it is scaremongering nonsense. The paper itself is very interesting and refers to the (larger than expected) carbon dioxide emissions from the volcano in recent years. I think it highlights the potential of a large eruption and doesn’t really say that one is in any way imminent just that the volcano is still very much active and building towards its next eruption at some stage in the future.

Agreed. The only certainty is that Katla will erupt at some point, but as you say that could still be another 100 years away.

However, given its pattern of recent centuries, Katla is overdue for an eruption. When it does blow, it is likely to have a big impact on western Europe, which is why there is so much interest in it.

 

Agreed. The only certainty is that Katla will erupt at some point, but as you say that could still be another 100 years away.

However, given its pattern of recent centuries, Katla is overdue for an eruption. When it does blow, it is likely to have a big impact on western Europe, which is why there is so much interest in it.

With ongoing changes to atmospheric circulation patterns we cannot say for sure Europe will be in the firing line though?

The past 3 winters have seen a pattern of lows entering the Arctic Basin via Svalbard so any eruption will likely see the plume directed away from Europe?

PW seems to be our self declared expert on such alterations to the Jet?

 

Agreed. The only certainty is that Katla will erupt at some point, but as you say that could still be another 100 years away.

However, given its pattern of recent centuries, Katla is overdue for an eruption. When it does blow, it is likely to have a big impact on western Europe, which is why there is so much interest in it.

Morning MM. I have just been reading an article by Anna Agnarsdóttir covering Sir Joseph Banks' interest in Icelandic vulcanism. You might enjoy a look.

http://blogs.bl.uk/european/2018/04/why-did-joseph-banks-go-to-iceland-in-1772.html

Roger

 

With ongoing changes to atmospheric circulation patterns we cannot say for sure Europe will be in the firing line though?

The past 3 winters have seen a pattern of lows entering the Arctic Basin via Svalbard so any eruption will likely see the plume directed away from Europe?

PW seems to be our self declared expert on such alterations to the Jet?

It could have an affect on the Arctic circulation pattern though, which could have longer term implications for Europe. 

On an related note, my eldest daughter was telling me about the Mary Shelley film she wants to watch.

I then went into the tale about the background to Shelley's Frankenstein story - the summer spent at the Geneva villa during the 'year without a summer' and the wet, cold weather driving them inside the house for long periods, where they passed the time writing horror stories. The 'year without a summer' was of course the result of the eruption of Tambora. And another cultural influence it had was the paintings of Turner, with the stunning sunsets caused by the tephra in the atmosphere.

My daughter wasn't as enthusiastic about the background as I am.

Krakatau triggered a tsunami, hitting the coast around Indonesia's Sunda Strait

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-46663158.

It looks very nasty and given the past history and also (Anak) Karakatau’s “heritage” I think people are understandably worried.

It seems that the tsunami was caused by underwater activity or an underwater eruption, or at least that is the current theory. The volcano has been active for quite a long time so I’m not sure if this is a portent of something more significant.

Edit: I see that Darwin’s Volcano Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) has also noticed what appears to be an ash cloud to 55000ft in association with the eruption (although at time of writing this has yet to be confirmed).

Krakatau triggered a tsunami, hitting the coast around Indonesia's Sunda Strait

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-46663158.

 

It's starting to look like a major incident.

 

It's starting to look like a major incident.

 

Indeed.  Obviously made worse by the tsunami htting at night and with no warnings (because it wasn't triggered by an earthquake).

Currently over 200 dead and 800 injured.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-asia-46664024

One positive is that this occurred not far from Jakarta so help has reached the area very quickly.

It looks very nasty and given the past history and also (Anak) Karakatau’s “heritage” I think people are understandably worried.

It seems that the tsunami was caused by underwater activity or an underwater eruption, or at least that is the current theory. The volcano has been active for quite a long time so I’m not sure if this is a portent of something more significant.

Edit: I see that Darwin’s Volcano Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) has also noticed what appears to be an ash cloud to 55000ft in association with the eruption (although at time of writing this has yet to be confirmed).

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/indonesia-tsunami-what-is-anak-krakatoa-volcano-11057966

The 'child of Krakatoa' has grown to 1,000 feet asl since it emerged in 1928.  That's close on one foot per month.  I must admit I didn't realise it was that active.

When you stand on the shore and look around at Rakata, Sertung and Panjang islands - the remaining fragments of the huge 1883 eruption - the sense of awe is almost overwhelming. You really feel you are standing on a pressure cooker and this small island, Anak Krakatau (the Child of Krakatau), is the valve ready to blow.

Indonesia is a wonderful, beautiful country...shaped the destructive power of the natural world.

USGS Earthquake Hazard page

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/ 

Volcano and Earthquake Resources page

http://www.colby.edu/geology/V&e.html 

Roger

Looks like flank collapse on Krakatau!

https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/krakatau/news/72509/Krakatau-volcano-Sunda-Strait-Indonesia-activity-update-Large-portion-of-Anak-Krakatau-appears-to-ha.html?fbclid=IwAR31N7vzMAHVjRrOGtH5dXE9NyR8iV3cOnGpumOuRcmZzlmqSAFhg6Vj8h0.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv6bAY3v5A8&fbclid=IwAR06zcBh_-UFDopawN2naSVvZOzBHz9R8ZlnncCqErUfrTPXLom20F4Hf_c.

I can understand Indonesian leaders promising a new tsunami warning system, on the principle of must be seen to do something - but it seems a bit doubtful that the 10 minutes or less warning in this case would have made a great deal of difference. For larger earthquake-based tsunamis, they will have to crack the problem of pilfering of spare parts from buoys or go for a (?) more expensive sea-floor system

Eruption of Krakatau continues with the news that it's now the subject of  3-mile exclusion zone for aircraft.

Meanwhile Etna renews its activity. The associated earthquake is stated to be unusual  for an Etna eruption - I'd have said that too - and the end of the article has a slightly ominous tailpiece about increased seismicity at Vesuvius which has averaged an eruption every 60 years over 2 millennia. (Last eruption was 1944)

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/26/680283644/sicily-is-shaken-by-earthquake-as-mount-etna-erupts-once-again