Re: Ecuador volcano erupts, villagers evacuate

[Guest guest]

There was also an eruption in Central America and there is this:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37371442/ns/world_news-europe

LONDON - A second, much larger volcano in Iceland is showing signs that it may be about to erupt, scientists have warned.

Since the start of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, which caused cancellations of thousands of flights in Europe because of a giant ash cloud, there has been much speculation about neighboring Katla.

An initial research paper by the University College of London Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction said: "Analysis of the seismic energy released around Katla over the last decade or so is interpreted as providing evidence of a rising ... intrusive magma body on the western flank of the volcano."

"Earlier seismic energy release at Katla is associated with the inflation of the volcano, which indicates it is close to failure, although this does not appear to be linked to seismicity around Eyjafjallajökull," it added.

"We conclude that given the high frequency of Katla activity, an eruption in the short term is a strong possibility," the report said. "It is likely to be preceded by new earthquake activity. Presently there is no unusual seismicity under Katla."

Icelandic President Ólafur Grímsson has warned governments around Europe that a significant eruption at the volcano is close. "We [iceland] have prepared ... it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over Europe and the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption," he said.

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More of that article on its page. Activity may be creeping up, that and the 7 magnitude in the Pacific again. The US West coast hasn't been hit directly yet by anything major. A couple just south of the border and one off the California Coast. But the US region has been remarkably quiet. Anyway, it will be interesting to see if Katla really erupts and what the effects will be.

In a message dated 5/29/2010 11:32:57 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

Ecuador volcano erupts, villagers evacuate