# Potential for major volcanic eruption in Iceland **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 19, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868 "2014-08-19T02:30:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/1 "2014-08-19T02:30:00Z")
Volcano fans, get out the popcorn: a subglacial volcano in Iceland, known by the anglicised name of Bardarbunga, may be about to erupt. Considered to be the country’s largest volcanic system, Bardarbunga apparently last erupted in 1910. Going back about 8500 years, the system was responsible for one of Earth’s largest lava flows of the period, expelling from 21-30 cubic kilometers of material. A major earthquake swarm began about two days ago and has yet to abate, but an eruption is not yet believed to be under way. Local authorities have raised the aviation alert level to orange, the second highest level. If an eruption does occur, potential effects could range from massive local flooding due to the rapid melting of the overlying glacier, to air travel disruption of the sort that happened in when the (unrelated) Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in 2010. Anyway, could be interesting times ahead. [http://www.newsoficeland.com/component/k2/item/519-possi-ble-volcanic-erupti-on-in-ice-land-earthquake-swarm](http://www.newsoficeland.com/component/k2/item/519-possi-ble-volcanic-erupti-on-in-ice-land-earthquake-swarm) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardarbunga](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardarbunga) ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/2 "2014-08-19T11:01:30Z")
Oh great. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/3 "2014-08-19T11:54:55Z")
I just spent 12 days in Iceland this month, it would have been interesting to have been there for that. We hiked just west of the volcano in question, past Eyjafjallajökull and Katla. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/4 "2014-08-19T11:57:07Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > We hiked just west of the volcano in question, past Eyjafjallajökull I’m willing to bet you did not type that from memory. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/5 "2014-08-19T12:27:19Z")
Swell - I’m supposed to be flying to London via Iceland on Monday. Then we’re cruising back transatlantic with 3 stops in Iceland. I am not amused at this news. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/6 "2014-08-19T14:48:04Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Swell - I’m supposed to be flying to London via Iceland on Monday. Then we’re cruising back transatlantic with 3 stops in Iceland. > > I am not amused at this news. :mad: Just remember to pack an extra sacrificial virgin and you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/7 "2014-08-19T14:51:48Z")
It’d have to be a pretty small sacrificial virgin - we’re limited to 2 bags at 50# each… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/8 "2014-08-19T16:55:39Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I’m willing to bet you did not type that from memory. Actually, it’s pretty easy to remember. There are plenty of t-shirts in Iceland to remind you. It’s just three parts: Ejya - fjalla - yökull, and the last part is just the Iceland word for glacier that you use all the time. So, yes, I did type that from memory. 🙂 I can still spell Landmannalaugar, the starting point of our trek. Don’t know how long that will last. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/9 "2014-08-19T17:14:24Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > Just remember to pack an extra sacrificial virgin and you’ll be fine. Its always going to be something with you, Joe, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/10 "2014-08-19T17:27:47Z")
No biggie, all the ice will cool the lava before any damage is done. Huh? Say what? But the NAME of the place is ICEland, fer crying out loud! Next your going to tell me Greenland isn’t a tropical rainforest… ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/11 "2014-08-19T18:29:49Z")
Earth could use a Mt. Pinatubo level eruption to take the edge off of global warming for a year or so. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/12 "2014-08-19T18:40:55Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > Just remember to pack an extra sacrificial virgin and you’ll be fine. For that matter, where is she going to find a virgin in southern Maryland? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/13 "2014-08-19T18:46:12Z")
I’d like some Iceland ash for my collection but it’s too far for me to go to collect any. Perhaps Bardarbunga would be so kind as to inject a copious amount into the stratosphere where it can circle the earth, thus saving me the expense and inconvenience. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/14 "2014-08-19T18:53:09Z")
Oh, \*\*BBBobbio \*\*- you so funny… 😛 \*\*lieu \*\*- if I get ashed when I’m over there, I’ll bring some back for you. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/15 "2014-08-19T19:09:25Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > No biggie, all the ice will cool the lava before any damage is done. > > Huh? Say what? But the NAME of the place is ICEland, fer crying out loud! Next your going to tell me Greenland isn’t a tropical rainforest… I can hear it now: “…This just in… Reykjavik has just been renamed Reykjavolc. Details at 11…” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![buddy431](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/16 "2014-08-19T21:00:24Z")
The reason the Eyjafjallajökull eruption was so disruptive to air travel was because the jet stream was in an unusual position, such that the ejected ash was inserted straight into the jet stream, and then blown pretty much right down the middle of Europe. While it’s possible that a Bardarbunga eruption could shut down air travel within Europe to the extent Eyjafjallajökull did, I think it’s rather unlikely that things would be that bad. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/17 "2014-08-20T00:15:51Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > Earth could use a Mt. Pinatubo level eruption to take the edge off of global warming for a year or so. Right. **FairyChatMom** , leave the virgin at home, please! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/18 "2014-08-20T13:01:40Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > **FairyChatMom** , leave the virgin at home, please! Or you could drop her by my house. For safekeeping, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/19 "2014-08-20T20:39:11Z")
[Unlikely worst case: all planes grounded for six months.](http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/08/19/iceland_volcano_bardarbunga_how_bad_would_an_eruption_be.html) Hope all Dopers in the area are safe and prepared, and that there’s no global catastrophe. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868/20 "2014-08-20T21:41:22Z")
> [@buddy431](#): > > The reason the Eyjafjallajökull eruption was so disruptive to air travel was because the jet stream was in an unusual position, such that the ejected ash was inserted straight into the jet stream, and then blown pretty much right down the middle of Europe. While it’s possible that a Bardarbunga eruption could shut down air travel within Europe to the extent Eyjafjallajökull did, I think it’s rather unlikely that things would be that bad. Couple posts from an Icelander (is that the right term?) on the Daily Kos: > [@](#): > > The winter of 1783-1784. The Revolutionary War had just ended, and Benjamin Franklin was puzzling over the nation’s bizarre weather. Congress had been delayed getting to Annapolis to vote for the Treaty of Paris because the Chesapeake Bay just wouldn’t melt. The Mississippi River froze down to New Orleans, and ice was reported floating in the Gulf of Mexico. Reports from Europe were of a bizarrely hot summer with thick fog that was choking people to death in Scotland, massive hailstones, lightning, and crop failures. The sun was blood-red at noon. Mass starvation that would ultimately kill 1/6ths of Egypt’s population took hold due to a historic drought of the Nile. As many as six million people would die from the bizarre weather. > [@](#): > > The total quantity of lava erupted - 14 cubic kilometers - was not that much more than Mount Pinatubo (largest eruption of the 20th century)'s 10 cubic kilometers. But the eruption kicked out a staggering 120 million tons of sulfur dioxide, compared to Pinatubo’s 17 million - nearly supervolcano levels. Also unusually, Laki emitted 8 million tons of hydrogen fluoride - normally a trace volcanic gas. These gasses created the “Laki Haze” across Europe. In Iceland, the consequences were most severe - a quarter of the population starved or died of fluoride poisoning, and most of the livestock died. Denmark considered evacuating the entire island. > > Is Laki threatening to go off? No. Then why do I mention him? > > Because his big sister IS threatening to go off. from [Just to let you all know…](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/17/1322378/-Just-To-Let-You-All-Know) and [Volcano watch](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/19/1322994/-B-r-arbunga-rumble-rumble-rumble-volcano-watch) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-major-volcanic-eruption-in-iceland/695868.md?page=2)