Comments on: Volcano followup: pix, video

By: Bramblyspam

Bramblyspam — Wed, 25 May 2011 22:08:28 +0000

Here are some really lovely pics from the eruption!

By: Egill V

Egill V — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:54:55 +0000

hey all, everyone here in iceland is fine, it’s not dangerous long as there aren’t any airheads wanting to get too close and most have the sense to stay away, those that don’t aren’t clever enough to get past the police stopping them on the roads before they get in trouble.

casualties are 0

some sheep/cows/horses have gotten it a bit rough, pretty sure some have died, as well as some birds, saw some footage of birds trying to get to the light and banging into windows, trying to get a relief from the ash and basically out of the darkness of the ash.

it’s mostly annoying for most people here, very minor ash has reached Reykjavik, but when the ash cloud was heading our way it was a bit intimidating as can be expected, but never a worry, people with breathing troubles were advised to stay indoors as well as those with sensitive eyes, all though i think most didn’t notice much difference unless those that lived near Grimsvotn.

as of now, geologists are thinking the biggest poof is over with, and they doubt it’ll pick up again, to start with it the blast reached up to about 8 kilometers, but now it’s about 3-6, and Grimsvotn eruption have a history of starting strong then fading out, hoping it’ll keep in tune with that reputation.

cheers.

By: Brian Too

Brian Too — Tue, 24 May 2011 23:43:05 +0000

It’s like Marge Simpson’s hairdo! With a crazy, Bride-of-Frankenstein twist!

By: Jack Hagerty

Jack Hagerty — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:10:30 +0000

19. Silber Says: “Can somebody explain to me in (some) detail how those displays of lightning are formed exactly?”

Probably not, but it sounds like a great research project. Start filling out those grant applications!

- Jack

By: MadScientist

MadScientist — Tue, 24 May 2011 16:26:55 +0000

I would question how much lightning is ‘usual’ in an eruption column.

By: CR

CR — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:48:00 +0000

@2 bigjohn 756
Perhaps ‘tons’ was a mistake… maybe he meant ‘oodles’ of lightning.

By the way, as someone who loves to watch thunderstorms, I had to keep reminding myself while watching the volcano video that all the grey in those shots was not water vapor clouds, but countless tons (oodles?) of pulverized rock particles… mind blowing!

By: Silber

Silber — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:40:23 +0000

Can somebody explain to me in (some) detail how those displays of lightning are formed exactly?

By: Grimsvötn ist der neue Eyjafjallajökull « 11k2

Grimsvötn ist der neue Eyjafjallajökull « 11k2 — Tue, 24 May 2011 07:30:04 +0000

[...] Die Aschewolke war gestern bereits 20 km hoch (sagt die Nasa), Transatlantikflüge könnten in den nächsten Tagen kompliziert werden. badastronomy [...]

By: kuhnigget

kuhnigget — Tue, 24 May 2011 04:45:07 +0000

@ RwFlynn:

Wow! I had never thought about how much lightning there could be in a volcanic event such as this. Truly impressive.

When Mt. St. Helens blew in 1980, those of us underneath the ash cloud as it collapsed were treated to groovy displays of pink lightning overhead. Something about the color and density of all the ash in the air tinted the discharges as observed from the ground. It was rather psychotronic.

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:35:42 +0000

@14. Lynn Wilhelm :

I think people are safe – at least I certainly haven’t heard otherwise and I doubt many are living near the volcano – especially now!

Of course, I could be mistaken. See :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%ADmsv%C3%B6tn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Iceland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatnaj%C3%B6kull

for more.

Seems the volcanoes are on or close to glaciers which are pretty much uninhabited far as I can gather from some preliminary checks. I think Grimsvoten is actually inside the Vatnajökull National Park.