This is the moment molten lava spews more than 30 metres into the air during a dramatic volcanic eruption.
Scientists who are monitoring the latest eruption in
the 200-year-old Holuhraun lava field, near the Bardarbunga volcano in
southeast Iceland, have been treated to quite a show since it began
Sunday.
They
say the eruption from a fissure just north of the rumbling volcano has
not created any ash fall and the seismic activity decreased by almost
half on Tuesday, with 300 earthquakes reported over a 12-hour period.
A
white plume of steam and gas extends nearly three miles above sea
level, and highly dangerous gas levels have been detected around the
eruption site where rivers of fire are forming as lava gushes out of a
mile-long crack in the ground.
Visitors are being told to equip themselves with gas masks and gas readers.
Thousands
of earthquakes have rocked the region around Iceland's largest volcano
for weeks amid fears that the airline industry would see a repeat of the
2010 ash cloud crisis. Iceland’s
aviation alert level remains at orange – the second-highest level –
because there is currently no ash cloud threat, although that could
change, experts warn.
Close-up
photos of the gaping fissure, volatile lava fountains and a billowing
cloud of steam and gas reveal the raw beauty and brute force of volcanic
activity. Photographer
Einar Gudmann, 47, flew through windy weather and a sandstorm to reach
the dangerous eruption site to take the images.
Raw beauty: Lava spews out of a
mile-long fissure that slices through the Holuhraun lava field north of
Bardarbunga, Iceland's largest volcano
The lava flowing from the fissure is known as pahoehoe lava, a Hawaiian term, and it is forming slabs on the surface
Incredible scene: Scientists say the temperature of the lava is about 1200C at the centre of a fissure near the rumbling volcano
Fountains of lava: Scientists are
keeping a close watch on Bardarbunga, Iceland’s largest volcano, and the
200-year-old Holuhraun lava field
Air travel worries: Scientists say the
eruption that began Sunday has not created any ash fall and the seismic
activity decreased by almost half on Tuesday
Dramatic eruption: A white plume of
steam and gas extends nearly three miles above sea level, but the
aviation alert level has not been raised above orange
Photographer
Einar Gudmann, from Akureyri, Iceland, battled windy weather and a
sandstorm to shoot the scene from a plane 500 feet above the ground
Uncertain future: Scientists say they
are monitoring the situation and the potential scenarios include
additional eruptions that could cause flooding or an ash cloud
A bed of fire is forming as 1200C lava
pours out of a mile-long crack north of the rumbling Bardarbunga
volcano in southeast Iceland
Highly dangerous gas levels have been
reported at the eruption site, so scientists are urging visitors to be
equipped with gas sensors and gas masks
What a view: Photographers are
capturing breathtaking scenes as molten lava is spewed more than 30
metres into the air during a dramatic volcanic eruption
Spectacular: Lava spurts from a fissure in the ground on the north side of the Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland
Heavenly sight? An orange glow is visible in the sky over the site of a volcanic eruption at the Holuhraun lava field in Iceland
Danger zone: Icelandic officials had
already closed roads and evacuated an area to the north of Bardarbunga
as they prepared for an eruption
Thousands of earthquakes have rocked
the region for weeks amid fears that the airline industry would see a
repeat of the 2010 ash cloud crisis
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