Icelandic Volcanoes: Interaction between Volcanoes, Ice, and Atmosphere.
This lecture will be presented by Dr. ThorvaldurThordarson at the Old Government House, Guernsey on Wednesday, 22 February
From 6.15pm
6:15pm Pre Dinner drinks (optional)
6:30pm Dinner (optional)
8:00pm Lecture (FREE to attend)
9:00pm (approx) Post-lecture discussions
Iceland is one of the most active volcanic regions in the world, with over 20 eruptions each century producing more than 5.5 cubic kilometres of magma. In early 2010, the UK experienced the effects of Iceland's volatile landscape when the volcanic plume produced by Eyjafjallajökull caused ash to reach the air space of the UK and mainland Europe.
It is the interaction between fire and ice which makes Iceland's eruptions so spectacular - many eruptions occur beneath glaciers, which contains the pressure of an eruption until it becomes great enough to cause an explosion of magma and steam. Contact between magma and ice causes the magma to cool rapidly to form glass-type needles - the reason aircraft were grounded. Icelandic volcanoes have been active for many thousands of years, and will continue to be so in the future. This talk will explore the mechanism of the eruptions and their effects, not only on the country itself, but further afield.
Lecture comes with an optional dinner, starting at 6:30pm. You can pay for the dinner online for "Icelandic Volcanoes: Interaction between Volcanoes, Ice, and Atmosphere", or by bringing a cheque made payable to CIGPE. Please notify them of any special dietary requirements when paying.
If you are interested in just the talk, you are welcome to join at 8:00pm.