Assessment - 06 May 2010 20:15
Explosive activity has increased and effusive part has decreased for
the last two days. This results in a higher eruption column with
increased tephra fallout.
The ash plume, observed from commercial pilots between 0530h and 0800h:
30,000 ft/9km. ICG helicopter flight between 13h and 14h: sometimes
under 20,000 ft (where there is a cloud bank) and oscillates up into
the cloud bank (over 9 km).
Considerable ashfall at Þykkvabæjarklaustur in Álftaver (at a distance
of 65-70 km), (everything has turned black). It has not been
established whether the ash cloud south of Eyjafjallajökull is ashfall
or ash that has already fallen and is being blown from the ground.
Discharge from Gígjökull decreases further and meltwater seems to be
running from the eastern side of the glacier. This is different from
Tuesday’s meltwater were water was running from the west side. Lava
flow might be changing the direction of meltwater flow. Such changes
should be taken seriously with regard to possible outbursts due to
accumulation of meltwater.
Earthquake activity is still being recorded. At least 10 earthquakes
have been located since midnight. Most of the earthquakes are sourced
beneath or south of the top crater in the eruptive conduit that has
formed since 3 May. Most of the earthquakes are less than magnitude 2,
the biggest M2.2.
There are no signs 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 18:00.
