Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/I00775X/1
Mapping and sampling of the tephra fallout from the 14 April - ongoing eruption at Eyjafjoll volcano, S-Iceland
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor T Thordarson, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Geosciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr J Gilbert, Lancaster University, Lancaster Environment Centre
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr C Hayward, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Geosciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Edinburgh, Sch of Geosciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Earth
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Science Topics:
- Earth Surface Processes
- Environment & Health
- Volcanic Processes
- Geohazards
- Abstract:
- The 14 April-ongoing 2010 explosive eruption at Eyjafjoll volcano, south Iceland unexpectedly caused widespread disruption to aviation and every day life in the UK and Europe, resulting in economic difficulties that were felt across the globe. The widespread problem was caused by the large proportions of ash produced by the eruption coupled with atmospheric conditions that transported the ash plume to Europe. Although, atmospheric dispersal models have coped well with predicting the plume dispersal, accurate modelling of ash concentration and grain size distribution within the plume has been challenging due to poorly defined input (i.e. source) parameters and limited information on actual atmospheric ash-removal rates. We aim to provide data on source parameters for these models. Mapping, measurement and sampling of the eruption products (i.e. tephra fall out and lava) is an essential undertaking for quantitative determination of critical eruption parameters such as the volume of erupted magma, magma discharge upon venting, whole deposit grainsize, grain morphologies, magma composition, degree of magma degassing and atmospheric venting of volatiles such as H2O, CO2, S, Cl, F. These parameters underpin other research and modelling aimed at assessing the atmospheric effects of an eruption. The tephra blanket from the 14 April - ongoing Eyjafjoll eruption in Iceland is highly susceptible to reworking (i.e. wind, rain and surface runoff) and, in this particular case. The vulnerability is particularly high because spring thaw with all its snow melt is imminent in Iceland. Thus to ensure the highest quality data set for quantitative reconstruction of the tephra fallout in Iceland along with reliable calculations of eruption volume, magma discharge and whole deposit grain size, we are seeking Emergency Funds to enable expedient recovery of the essential field data as well as to allow us to undertake rapid reconstruction of key eruption parameters that will underpin future research on the 2010 Eyjafjoll event by us and other researchers within Earth Sciences and related fields.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/I00775X/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Small Grants (FEC)
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Urgency
This grant award has a total value of £51,551
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DA - Estate Costs | DA - Other Directly Allocated | DI - T&S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £9,200 | £6,253 | £9,197 | £2,397 | £2,705 | £21,800 |
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