Less ash, more lava: Eyjafjallajökull changing its style?

Eyjafjallajökull from the Hvolsvelli webcam, 20 April 2010 at 08:20 GMT.

Yesterday the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) bulletin on Eyjafjallajökull reported that seismic signals indicated that lava flow might be beginning and that the ash-producing phase of the eruption was coming to an end. A change in eruptive style from ash-producing to lava-producing could be under way, Icelandic scientists have suggested.

However, reports of ‘a new ash cloud heading into British airspace’ have meant that plans for a partial resumption of flights from UK airports have been scaled back. The latest Volcanic Ash Advisory from London VAAC, issued at 0600Z today, reports that the eruption plume is reaching 4000 m altitude and lava is visible in the crater, and remarks that there is no significant ash above FL350 (35,000 feet/10,600 metres altitude), and that from 1800Z this evening no significant ash is forecast above FL200 (20,000 feet/6,000 metres altitude). The accompanying maps show a very wide distribution of ash across European and North Atlantic airspace. It’s clear that no easing of the flight bans affecting much of Europe can be expected before this evening at the earliest.

The latest statement from UK air traffic authority NATS, released this morning, is as follows:

The situation regarding the volcanic eruption in Iceland remains dynamic and the latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation today will continue to be variable.

Based on the latest Met Office information, part of Scottish airspace including Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh airports will continue to be available from 1300-1900 today, and also south to Newcastle Airport. Restrictions will remain in place over the rest of UK airspace below 20,000ft.

Overnight the CAA, in line with new guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) decided flights above the ash cloud will be permitted in the UK; between 1300-1900 this will enable aircraft movements above 20,000ft in UK airspace.

The continuing restrictions on air traffic are highly disruptive and very expensive, and unsurprisingly there are increasing calls for a more ‘measured’ approach, particularly from the affected airlines. Dr Klemetti has more on this at Eruptions, and Chris Rowan has some relevant observations at Highly Allocthonous.

For all our Eyjafjallajökull coverage: Eyjafjöll « The Volcanism Blog.

News
A more measured reaction to the ash – Financial Times, 19 April 2010
Iceland volcano emits more lava, less ash – Reuters, 20 April 2010
Icelandic volcano ash cloud lower, eruption steady – Reuters, 20 April 2010
New surge of ash from Eyjafjallajokull volcano – The Times, 20 April 2010
Iceland volcano: latest travel news – Daily Telegraph, 20 April 2010
All quiet on the volcano front: Icelandic volcano still active – Iceland Review Online, 20 April 2010
The cost of Europe’s volcanic ash travel crisis – Time, 20 April 2010

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Eyjafjöll – summary information for Eyjafjallajökull, which the GVP calls Eyjafjöll (1702-02=)
Met Office: Icelandic volcano eruption – information and updates from the UK Met Office