Under the auspices of the European Union, local scientists are currently working with the FutureVolc project to improve ways of monitoring and predicting upcoming volcanic eruptions, BBC reports.
According to the BBC report, FutureVolc is a project funded by the European Union in response to the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption and the subsequent global air travel disruption. The project involves 26 different groups and institutions including the universities of Iceland, Cambridge and Bristol as well as the UK and Icelandic meteorological offices. BBC states that “it is hoped the work will enable better detection of imminent eruptions and map their evolution.”
The project largely consists of improving real-time measurements of volcanic activity in the country’s most active regions, including Eyjafjalljökull and Katla. More sensor devices, such as seismometers, GPS sensors, multi-gas meters and infrasound arrays are being installed to measure changes in magma and gas levels and other volcanic stuff.
Reflecting the project’s underlying impetus of preventing another European air traffic crisis, further research on ash types and ash dispersal is also being conducted. Earlier this month, mbl reported of another, unaffiliated project that had the low-cost British airline easyJet exporting a ton of ash from Iceland in order to use it to train pilots to fly in ashy conditions.
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