The World's Angriest Volcanoes Revealed

4. Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland

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One of the lesser ice caps beautifying Iceland's varied terrain is Eyjafjallajökull, which translates from "Island mountain glacier" in Icelandic. This geological wonder is a potent natural force that has profoundly affected local communities as well as world events, not only a beautiful sight. Covering the caldera of an active volcano, the about 100 square km ice cap Rising 1,666 meters (5,466 feet) above sea level, this volcano is clearly visible in the southern part of Iceland. In 2010 the volcano under Eyjafjallajökull became well-known worldwide as its eruption caused hitherto unheard-of disturbance to air traffic over western and northern Europe. With more than 100,000 passengers affected and almost 20 countries closing their airspace to commercial jet operations, the scope of this disturbance was astounding. This catastrophe made clear the far-reaching effects that natural events can have on our ever linked planet. The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption was a multifarious sequence of events spanning several months. It started on March 20 with a sequence of minor earthquakes that foreshadowed the major incident. An explosive eruption following these seismic events launched a large plume of ash and volcanic gases skyward. The eruption persisted until May 23, during which time volcanologists, meteorologists, and aviation authorities remained constantly on alert for more than two months due of great geological activity. Because of its composition and the general weather circumstances, the ash cloud created by Eyjafjallajökull caused especially difficulties for air travel. The small, abrasive particles in the ash seriously threatened aeroplane engines, maybe leading to mid-flight failure. The economic impact of this disturbance was significant; airlines lost an estimated $1.7 billion in income. This resulted in the broad cancellation of flights as a precautionary measure, therefore triggering the worst air-traffic shutdown since World War II. The eruption had major local effects even while the world's attention was on the turmoil in air traffic. Jökulhlaups, glacial outburst floods brought on by fast melting the ice cap brought threat to nearby towns from flooding. With their great volume of water, ice, and trash carried at rapid speeds, these floods can be rather deadly. Several towns were evacuated in advance to guarantee resident safety. Luckily, there were no recorded deaths or major injuries resulting directly from the volcanic activity despite the scope and length of the eruption. Many people woke up from Eyjafjallajökull's 2010 eruption and saw the need of greater volcanic monitoring and preparation for major natural catastrophes. It also piqued further interest in volcanology and how it interacts with other disciplines such meteorology, disaster management, and aircraft. To better grasp the behaviour of ice-covered volcanoes and to enhance predictive models for next events, scientists keep analysing the data acquired during this eruption.