Threat of new, larger Icelandic eruption looms

Scientists fear tremors at the Eyjafjallajokull (...ay-yah-FYAH-lah-yer-kuhl) volcanco could trigger an even more dangerous eruption at the Katla volcano nearby. An eruption at Katla would be devastating for the airline industry and travelers, it would be 10 times stronger and shoot higher and larger plumes of ash into the air than its smaller neighbor, which has already brought European air travel to a standstill for five days and promises severe travel delays for days more. Katla showed no signs of activity Tuesday, according to scientists who monitor it with seismic sensors, but they were still wary. Pall Einarsson, professor of geophysics at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, said one volcanic eruption sometimes causes a nearby volcano to explode, and Katla and Eyjafjallajokull have been active in tandem in the past. The last three times Eyjafjallajokull erupted, Katla did also. Katla "awakens" every 80 years or so and the last explosion was 1918."Katla can start tomorrow or in 100 years, you don't know," said Svenn Palsson. "All we can do is be ready."

Uh oh. It appears that Katla is due to erupt any time soon, just like how the Bay Area is due for an earthquake any time soon. Seeing how much the original Icelandic volcano eruption has affected everyone, imagine Katla erupting which would be 10 times more devastating. This goes to show you how much the world depends on air travel and how difficult it is when flights are cancelled due to ash.