Iceland Grimsvotn Volcano Erupts

Iceland’s Meteorological Office has confirmed that the Grimsvotn volcano eruption has begun. Its last eruption was in 2004. The volcano lies under the uninhabited Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland.

This is the most recent twitpic’s of the volcano from Hjortur Smarason.

Scientists have been expecting a new eruption and have said previously that this volcano’s eruption will likely be small and should not lead to the air travel chaos caused in April 2010 by ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano.

History shows that previous eruptions in Grimsvotn have not had much influence on flight traffic — unlike the massive disruption caused last year.

Pall Einarsson, geophysicist at the University of Iceland, said last year’s eruption was a rare event.