2011 eruption of Grímsvötn

2011 eruption of Grímsvötn
Grímsvötn on 22 May, showing ash plume
Volcano	Grímsvötn
Date	21 May 2011
Location	Grímsvötn, Iceland
Impact	disruption of air travel
Grímsvötn Eyjafjallajökull Webcam at Jökulsárlón Grímsvötn and webcam

The 2011 eruption of Grímsvötn is an eruption in Grímsvötn, Iceland's most active volcano, which caused disruption to air travel in North-Western Europe from 22–25 May 2011. The last eruption of Grímsvötn was in 2004,^[1] with the previous most powerful eruptions in 1783, 1873 and 1902.^[2][3] The Grímsvötn eruption is the largest eruption in Iceland for 50 years.^[4]

Contents 1 Timeline 2 Ash characteristics 3 Effect on flights 4 Effect on locals 5 Effect on markets 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Timeline

The eruption is estimated to have started under the glacier at around 17:30 UTC on 21 May 2011 when an intense spike in tremor activity was detected.^[5] At around 19:00 UTC, the eruption broke the ice cover of the glacier and started spewing volcanic ash into the air.^[6] The eruption plume quickly rose to 65,000 feet (20 km).^[7] A series of small earthquakes had commenced at the time of eruption.^[8] Glacial flooding was anticipated, which normally occurs within 10-12 hours after eruption^[9], but never occurred as a flood had occurred the previous autumn, meaning a smaller chance of another flood appearing.^[10]

On 25 May, the Iceland Met Office (IMO) confirmed the eruption had paused at 02:40 UTC.^[11] Later the BBC reported that the volcanic activity appeared to have stopped.^[12] At 15:00 the IMO issued an update stating that no further ash plume is expected.^[13] However there are still pulsating explosions producing ash and steam clouds, some reaching a few kilometers in height, rising up from the vents. Also there is still widespread ash in cloud layers up to 5 km from the eruption site.^[13]

On 26 May the Icelandic Meteorological Office and the University of Iceland reported that ashfall is only occurring adjacent to the eruption site. Visual observations indicate that little ice meltwater was produced during the eruption, so that an outburst flood (jökulhlaup) is not expected. Joint status reports will no longer be issued, unless something notable is observed.^[14]

The eruption ceased at 7am on 28th May 2011 ^[15].

Ash characteristics

The ash content from the Grímsvötn volcano has a much lower silica content (50%) compared to the ash from the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull (63%), giving the latter a higher viscosity. The ash emitted from Grímsvötn is also more coarse than the smaller, more abrasive particles emitted from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption^[16] as a result of the basalt-based magma of the Grímsvötn volcano exploding through the glacier, rather than reacting with meltwater.^[4]

Effect on flights

A total of 900 flights (out of 90 000 in Europe) were cancelled as a result of the eruption in the period 23–25 May.^[17]

On 22 May, Iceland closed down its main airport Keflavík International Airport, with domestic flights cancelled (operated from Reykjavík Airport) as well.^[18] Transatlantic flights had also experienced delays, and the threat of further air travel disruption cut US President Barack Obama's state visit to Ireland a day short.^[19] Part of Greenland's eastern airspace was also closed,^[20] with one flight being cancelled by Air Greenland between Denmark's Kastrup Airport and Greenland's Kangerlussuaq Airport.^[21]

By 23 May, authorities in Denmark closed airspace below 4 miles (21,000 ft) in the northwestern part of the country, with some delays and cancellations at Copenhagen.^[22]

On 24 May, more than 1,600 flights were grounded as ash clouds travelled over Scotland,^[23] with airports in Scotland and northern England closed and 250 UK flights grounded.^[24] British Airways, KLM, Aer Lingus, Flybe, BMI, Loganair, Eastern Airways, Easyjet, and Ryanair cancelled most flights in the Scotland region,^[25] seeing Wales' Cardiff Airport also cancelling inbound and outbound flights by airline Flybe.^[26] Certain flights from Northern Ireland were also grounded.^[27] (The BBC has provided a list of affected flights to and from Irish airports). By nightfall, 20 flights had been cancelled to and from Gothenburg's Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport, with anticipated wind shift bringing the ash clouds from southwestern Sweden to the northeast, possibly reaching Stockholm's Arlanda Airport by 02:00 on Wednesday morning.^[28] Furthermore, Continental Airlines Flights 75 and 97 (from Hamburg and Berlin Tegel to Newark Liberty) had to make stopovers at Gander Airport, Newfoundland, to refuel as they were assigned more southerly routes that exceeded the Boeing 757-200s' range.

On 25 May, Germany also shut down airports in the north of the country, specifically Bremen Airport and Hamburg Airport at 03:00 and 04:00 CET, while Berlin Airports were closed from 09:00 CET.^[29] 600 flights were affected in Germany, however the closure was lifted by the afternoon.^[30]

By 26 May no European airspace was closed due to Grímsvötn volcanic ash, which was dissipating.^[31]

However on 27 May Greenlandic airspace was closed due to a concentration of ash over Greenland and the North Atlantic, affecting 1,000 passengers and 20 tonnes of cargo.^[32] The following day, certain flights had been restored with a Dash 8 taken out of service for technical issues, leaving minor disruptions to restored services. Ash clouds also remained over the region of Uummannaq and Upernavik, meaning northern-bound flights were still subject to weather developments.^[33] By Sunday 29 May, more flights and services had been restored, with few passengers stuck in coastal regions with arrivals expected on Monday or Tuesday.^[34]

Effect on locals

Kirkjubaejarklaustur was one of the most affected areas by the volcano. The Icelandic civil defence agency Almannavarnir established a service centre to organise clean up efforts and provide a point of contact for people who need help.^[35] During a local public meeting on the 26th, residents were permitted to claim for losses and additional costs for those who possess household fire insurance.^[35]

Effect on markets

Trading on jet fuel recovered as concerns on the volcano eased, causing the June swap contract to gain $18.30 to reach $1,019.14 per metric tonne by 16:15 GMT, after having reached a week low of $995.64 on Monday. Jet fuel barges on the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub had dropped to $989 on Monday, dropping from $1,003 per ton on 20 May.^[36] June jet fuel cargo swaps dropped to $93.15 per metric tonne on Tuesday compared to $99.45 on Monday trading.^[37]

See also

• Volcanic ash & air safety
• Air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption

References

External links

• Update on Grímsvötn Activity – from the Icelandic Met Office and University of Iceland (will be updated if activity resumes)
• Current seismology around Grímsvötn – Earthquakes in last 48 hours
• Webcam by Míla, Iceland (exact location unknown)
• Webcam at Jökulsárlón, south of the volcano, by Míla, Iceland
• Grímsvötn volcanic ash advisory from regional Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, London (updated every 6 hours)
• Grímsvötn updates from NATS – UK air traffic control plus the Eastern part of the North Atlantic
• BBC news report of the 23 May 2011 eruption
• Report on the start of the Grímsvötn eruption from the Icelandic Met Office
• National Geographic Photo Gallery of Grímsvötn's eruption - National Geographic Daily News