Ice and fire: volcanic glaciers

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any Icelandic volcano in possession of magma must be in want of an eruption. However little known the feelings and innards of such a volcano may be, any volcano in the neighbourhood, no matter how inactive looking, is considered the rightful property of VC. What a fine thing…

Rain and volcanoes

Albert’s article Volcanoes and rain explores the possible links between volcanic eruptions and subsequent periods of wet weather. But there is another side to this story: rain can, in turn, have an impact on volcanic activity, and maybe even trigger eruptions! The possibility of rainfalls causing eruptions has actually been speculated long ago. Georg Forster,…

Volcanoes and rain

It has been wet in the UK. Nothing unusual there, it may seem, although compared to the tropics, the rain is mostly mild. Temperatures are moderate and therefore the air does not contain as much moisture. Major deluges are rare. But not this winter. Especially the south of England has seen widespread flooding. France too…