Explanation:
Why did the
recent volcanic eruption in Iceland create so much ash?
Although the large
ash plume was not unparalleled in its abundance, its location was particularly
noticeable because it
drifted across such well populated areas.
The
Eyjafjallajökull
volcano in southern Iceland began erupting on March 20,
with a second eruption starting under the center of small glacier on April 14.
Neither eruption was unusually powerful.
The second eruption, however, melted a large amount of
glacial ice which then cooled and fragmented lava into gritty
glass particles that were carried up with the
rising volcanic plume.
Pictured above two days ago,
lightning bolts illuminate ash pouring out of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano.
