Assessment - 04 May 2010 19:00
The scene ca 16:00 GMT, 4 May
Eldgos, Eyjafjallajökull
The usually white Eyjafjallajökull is black. Above it rises the plume
from the crater and light steam plumes from Gigjökull. Markarfljót
river beneath. Photo: Ólafur Sigurjónsson.
[28]More photos from Ólafur. And [29]photos from flights with the
Icelandic Coast Guard (ICC). The photos also show the small eruption on
Fimmvörðuháls 20 March to 12 April.
Plume was observed at 5.8-6 km height (19-20,000 ft) estimated from the
Icelandic Coast Guard (ICG) flight at 10:40 and 15:30 GMT. It is
heading east-south-east to south-east from the eruption site. Plume
track clearly visible up to 300-400 km distance from the eruption site
on a NOAA satellite image at 13:13 GMT.
Water levels have been rather constant. Water temperature at
Markarfljot bridge was low this morning (below 2°C) but seems to be
rising (about 5°C at noon). Water level seems to be slightly
decreasing.
Lava is still flowing northwards, forming a lava fall down the steep
hill under Gígjökull, about 4 km north of the crater. Blue gas is seen
rising from the lava and white steam plumes are seen somewhat lower and
mark the front of the lava stream. The size of the eruptive crater is
280 x 190 m. Lava splashes are thrown at least a few hundred meters
into the air.
Overall assessment is that it is more explosive activity and ash
production than was observed yesterday. Progression of the lava seems
to be slower than yesterday.
Presently there are no indications that the eruption is about to end.
No measurable geophysical changes within the Katla volcano.
See more in
status report issued by Icelandic Meteorological Office and Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, at 15:00.
