Volcanoes In Iceland Research Paper

Iceland is one of the most volcanically active places on Earth. In 2010, a volcano nickname “Eyja” erupted. The effects of this eruption were felt globally. Thousands of flights were canceled. However, scientists are worried that this volcano could be just the beginning and that much worse can come from nearby volcanos in Iceland. Hekla, Katla, and Laki are located in the south of Iceland. All of them have a distinct personality.
Iceland has so many threating volcanoes as a result of its unique location. Iceland lies in the North Atlantic where two of the earth crustal plates are pulled apart. Below Iceland is a hot spot, where Molten material rises to Earth's surface forming active volcanoes.
Laki is well known to be a fissure volcano meaning that it erupts in a linear vent system. Laki does not erupt from a single crater but instead, lava gushes along a line where the fissure breaches the
surface. Laki erupted in June of 1783 and it was considered one the deadliest volcanic eruptions. This eruption had such a huge impact on the climate specifically because it released large amounts of sulfur dioxide into the air. It caused a huge haze that covered most parts of Europe and North America. Those gases released after the volcanic eruption killed tens of thousands of people in Europe.
Heckla is one of Iceland most active volcanoes erupting over twenty times in the last thousand years. Hekla is unique among other volcanoes in Iceland, it produces calc-alkaline which creates ash beds. Scientists predict that Heckla might produce a very big eruption in the near future.
Katla crater is over six miles wide buried below the ice.
Katla has erupted in the past right after “Ejya” which scientists suggest that hidden underground fissures could link these two volcanoes. With antennas and satellite signals scientist discovered that Katla’s magma chamber is inflating which means that is building towards an eruption. If Katla erupts today the devastation could be similar to the effects of “Ejya”, Laki and Hekla combined and the amount of sulfur produce would be worst. Iceland’s volcanic eruptions could have global consequences producing enough ash and sulfur to change the world’s climate. This would produce economic consequences specifically for the airline industries, and for the international trade. Modern societies are definitively not prepared for a massive volcanic eruption that could kill millions of people and create a huge impact in society and economy. It is also reported that an eruption of one of the Iceland’s volcanoes could kill thousands of people around the world due to the way that those lethal gases spread in the atmosphere so
easily.