Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology

GMPV for Sustainable Development – Geohazards and Volcanic Monitoring

Camilla Imarisio November 3, 2021

GMPV and The Sustainable Development Goals In 2015 all United Nations Member States adopted a set of Global Goals, as a universal call to protect our planet, end poverty and ensure that all people can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are called the Sustainable Development Goals – 17 integrated goals aimed at addressing the challenges our society is currently facing considering social, economic, a ...[Read More]

The Volcano & the Ash cloud: Eyjafjallajökull eruption 11 years later

Niamh Faulkner April 7, 2021

In the foreground there is a farm with a backdrop of a volcano is emitting large amounts of ash into the air.

The Ash cloud billowing out of Eyjafjallajökull in southern Iceland, April 16th 2020 (Source Encylopedia Britanica, Brynjar Gauti/AP)

11 years on from the infamous eruption and ash cloud that shut down the European airspace, there are parallels between current travel restrictions and another Icelandic eruption that’s currently in the news. 11 years ago the now infamous eruption of Eyjafjallajökull occurred. I remember that one, the ash cloud, right? Yes, that’s the one. The one that was all over the news, with stunning images of ...[Read More]

Fire, Fog, Frost, Famine – French Revolution? The Lakagígar eruption in Iceland, 1783-1784 [Part 2]

Will Hutchison May 22, 2018

Lava fountains of the fissure eruption in Holuhraun, northeast of Bárðarbunga (Iceland) in 2014. The fountains are about 70-90 meters in height. Image credit: Joschenbacher

PART II: Were the Haze Hardships caused by Men? Famine Before the Lakagígar eruption, the population of Iceland was 48810 people; four years later, it was down to 38518. Disregarding about 1500 deaths which were caused by a smallpox epidemic, the eruption may still have killed about 1/6 of the population [5]. These deaths were not directly caused by the lava or by toxic gases. The main cause was h ...[Read More]

Fire, Fog, Frost, Famine – French Revolution? The Lakagígar eruption in Iceland, 1783-1784 [Part 1]

Will Hutchison May 9, 2018

The southwestern part of the Lakagígar fissure, seen from the mountain Laki. The flat land to the left of the crater row is covered by rough ‘a’a-lava. The black stretches to the right are covered by tephra (solidified lava fragments) which was probably formed by violent interaction between rising magma and ground water. Photo credit: Claudia Wieners

“On the 8th of June 1783, at Whitsun, there gushed forth from the mountains behind the summer pastures a fire which devastated land, cattle and humans with its effects, both nearby and far away”, wrote Reverend Jón Steingrímsson of Kirkjubæjarklaustur in his autobiography [2]. The “fire” which welled up from a volcanic fissure now known as Lakagígar (the craters of Mount Laki) was the biggest floo ...[Read More]