An official declaration that the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajökull has come to an end will not be made until after next weekend, according to a decision made at a meeting between the Civil Protection Department and scientists yesterday.
The eruption in Eyjafjallajökull. Photo by Bjarni Brynjólfsson.
Minimal unrest is still being detected in the glacier and GPS monitors show slight changes to its surface, visir.is reports.
The glacier’s surface is unstable due to a thick layer of ash which creates a risk of mudslides, as have already burst forward on two occasions to the south of the glacier.
Developments will be monitored closely in the coming days. Geophysicist Páll Einarsson told mbl.is that volcanic eruptions usually wind down gradually before coming to a definite end.
The volcanic unrest in Eyjafjallajökull stopped rather abruptly, which is why it is wise to wait with declaring that the eruption is over, Einarsson explained.
When asked about a possible eruption in the neighboring volcano Katla, which is located below the Mýrdalsjökull icecap, Einarsson said there are no indications of an eruption there.
While both Grímsvötn and Hekla are ripe for an eruption the same doesn’t apply to Katla, Einarsson said, although it is known that it will erupt at some point. However, the next Katla eruption may very well be small.
Click here to read more about the mudslides and here to read the most recent eruption-related news.
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