Scientists Forecast Decades of Ash Clouds From Iclandic Eruptions

Scientists forecast decades of ash clouds - Times Online: "THE Icelandic eruption that has caused misery for air travellers could be part of a surge in volcanic activity that will affect the whole of Europe for decades, scientists have warned.

They have reconstructed a timeline of 205 eruptions in Iceland, spanning the past 1,100 years, and found that they occur in regular cycles — with the relatively quiet phase that dominated the past five decades now coming to an end.

At least three other big Icelandic volcanoes are building towards an eruption, according to Thor Thordarson, a volcanologist at Edinburgh University.

'The frequency of Icelandic eruptions seems to rise and fall in a cycle lasting around 140 years,' he said. 'In the latter part of the 20th century we were in a low period, but now there is evidence that we could be approaching a peak.'

His findings coincide with new warnings that the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull, which has disrupted air traffic across Europe for several weeks, could carry on for many months — and possibly years..."