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Eyjafjallajökull

The Volcano That Grounded Europe

Elevation

1,651 m

Last Eruption

2010

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Iceland

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskHigh
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity16 years agoRecentRecently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Watch
Dormant but monitored. Capable of renewed activity.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

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Interesting Facts

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The 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull caused the largest closure of European airspace since World War II, grounding approximately 100,000 flights over six days in April 2010.

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An estimated 10 million passengers were stranded and airline industry losses reached $1.7 billion, with total global economic impact assessed at roughly $5 billion.

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Eyjafjallajökull has only five confirmed eruptions in its entire recorded history — making it one of the least frequently erupting volcanoes in Iceland.

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Three of Eyjafjallajökull's four pre-2010 eruptions were followed by eruptions of neighboring Katla within months to a few years, suggesting a coupling between the two volcanic systems.

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The phreatomagmatic interaction between magma and glacial ice during the 2010 summit eruption produced an unusually high proportion of fine ash particles (< 63 micrometers), which remained airborne far longer than typical volcanic ash.

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The Fimmvörðuháls flank eruption in March 2010 — the first phase of the event — was so accessible that thousands of tourists hiked to within viewing distance of the lava fountains.

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Two new craters formed during the 2010 Fimmvörðuháls eruption were named Magni and Móði after the sons of the Norse god Thor.

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The Eyjafjallajökull ice cap covers approximately 78 km² and has been retreating in recent decades, losing an estimated 10% of its volume since 1990.

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Jökulhlaups (glacial floods) from the 2010 eruption reached peak discharge rates of 2,000–3,000 m³/s, flooding the Markarfljót river valley and forcing the evacuation of 800 people — with zero casualties.

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Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, two of Iceland's most famous waterfalls, are fed by meltwater from Eyjafjallajökull's glacier.

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The 2010 eruption led directly to the overhaul of international aviation ash protocols, replacing the previous zero-tolerance policy with concentration-based thresholds (allowing flight through zones with < 2 mg/m³ ash).

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Eyjafjallajökull's name — meaning 'island-mountains glacier' — became a global linguistic phenomenon, with television anchors worldwide struggling to pronounce it on air.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened during the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010?
The 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull occurred in two phases. A fissure eruption at Fimmvörðuháls on the eastern flank began on March 20, producing spectacular but relatively harmless basaltic lava fountains. On April 14, activity shifted to the ice-filled summit caldera, where magma–ice interaction triggered violently explosive phreatomagmatic eruptions. The resulting ash plume rose to 9–10 km altitude, directly into European flight corridors. Aviation authorities closed airspace across 23 countries from April 15–20, grounding approximately 100,000 flights and stranding 10 million passengers. The summit eruption continued intermittently until October 2010, rated VEI 4. Total economic impact was estimated at $5 billion. There were zero direct fatalities.
How do you pronounce Eyjafjallajökull?
Eyjafjallajökull is pronounced approximately as AY-yah-FYAT-lah-YOE-kuutl in Icelandic (IPA: [ˈeɪjaˌfjatl̥aˌjœːkʏtl̥]). The name breaks into three parts: eyja (AY-yah, meaning 'island'), fjalla (FYAT-lah, meaning 'mountains'), and jökull (YOE-kuutl, meaning 'glacier'). The double 'l' in Icelandic is pronounced as a voiceless 'tl' sound, which is the feature most English speakers find difficult. The name became a global linguistic challenge during the 2010 eruption, with news anchors worldwide famously struggling with its pronunciation on live television.
Is Eyjafjallajökull still active?
Yes, Eyjafjallajökull is classified as an active volcano. Its most recent eruption occurred in 2010, and volcanologists consider it capable of erupting again. As of early 2026, the volcano is not erupting and shows no signs of imminent unrest — seismicity has been at background levels since mid-2011. However, post-eruption studies suggest residual magma remains in the summit reservoir at 3–5 km depth. The Icelandic Meteorological Office continuously monitors the volcano with seismometers, GPS stations, and gas sensors. Iceland's historical record suggests average repose intervals of 200–400 years between eruptions, but the intervals have been irregular.
Could Eyjafjallajökull erupt again?
Yes, Eyjafjallajökull will almost certainly erupt again, though predicting when is impossible with current science. The volcano has erupted five times in recorded history, with an average recurrence interval of roughly 200–400 years. Post-2010 research indicates that the eruption did not fully empty the magma reservoir beneath the summit. A greater concern for Icelandic authorities is whether a future Eyjafjallajökull eruption might trigger a far larger eruption of neighboring Katla, as happened after three of the four pre-2010 events. Any future summit eruption interacting with the glacier would likely produce similar aviation-disrupting ash clouds, though improved monitoring and revised ash protocols would enable a faster and more nuanced response.
Why did the 2010 eruption cause so much disruption to flights?
Three factors combined to make the 2010 eruption uniquely disruptive to aviation. First, the eruption of silica-rich magma through 200 m of glacial ice produced phreatomagmatic explosions that fragmented the magma into exceptionally fine ash particles — small enough to remain suspended in the atmosphere for days and travel thousands of kilometers. Second, Eyjafjallajökull sits directly beneath the North Atlantic Organized Track System, the world's busiest oceanic flight corridor carrying over 1,400 flights daily between North America and Europe. Third, prevailing northwesterly winds carried the ash plume directly over the British Isles and continental Europe. Volcanic ash is extremely dangerous to jet engines because glass particles melt at turbine operating temperatures and can cause total engine failure.
How tall is Eyjafjallajökull?
Eyjafjallajökull rises to 1,651 m (5,417 ft) above sea level, making it a mid-sized volcano by Icelandic standards. For comparison, Iceland's tallest volcano is Öræfajökull at 2,110 m (6,923 ft), and the nearby Bárðarbunga reaches 2,000 m (6,562 ft). The summit is entirely covered by an ice cap approximately 78 km² in area and up to 200 m thick. The true rock summit beneath the glacier may be somewhat lower than the ice surface elevation. The volcano's steep southern face rises dramatically from near sea level at the coastal plain, giving it an imposing visual presence despite its moderate absolute height.
Will Eyjafjallajökull trigger an eruption of Katla?
The historical record suggests a possible link: three of Eyjafjallajökull's four pre-2010 eruptions (in 920, 1612, and 1821) were followed by eruptions of Katla within months to years. This pattern may result from stress transfer through the crust or shared deep magma pathways. Following the 2010 eruption, monitoring of Katla was significantly intensified. As of early 2026, Katla has not erupted — its last eruption was in 1918 — though it has shown periodic seismic unrest and minor jökulhlaups. Volcanologists emphasize that correlation is not causation: Katla also erupts independently of Eyjafjallajökull, and the sample size of coupled events is very small.
Can you visit Eyjafjallajökull?
Yes, the area around Eyjafjallajökull is one of southern Iceland's premier visitor destinations, though climbing to the summit requires glacier travel equipment and guide services. The Fimmvörðuháls Trail, a spectacular 22 km day hike between Skógar and Þórsmörk, crosses the fresh 2010 lava field and is accessible from late June through September. The famous waterfalls Seljalandsfoss (65 m) and Skógafoss (60 m), fed by meltwater from Eyjafjallajökull, are accessible year-round from the Ring Road. The LAVA Centre in nearby Hvolsvöllur offers an interactive exhibition on the 2010 eruption. Guided glacier walks on nearby Sólheimajökull provide views of Eyjafjallajökull's summit.
What does Eyjafjallajökull mean?
Eyjafjallajökull translates from Icelandic as 'island-mountains glacier.' The name is a compound of three words: eyja (islands), fjalla (mountains), and jökull (glacier). The 'island mountains' refer to the Eyjafjöll peaks, which are prominently visible from the Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands), an archipelago lying approximately 20 km off Iceland's southern coast. The name describes the geography precisely: a glacier-capped mountain range that serves as a landmark for the offshore islands. Icelanders often refer to the mountain range simply as Eyjafjöll, using the full name Eyjafjallajökull only when specifically referencing the glacier or the volcanic system.
How many people died in the Eyjafjallajökull eruption?
Zero people died as a direct result of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption. Iceland's sophisticated monitoring system detected the onset of eruptive activity and provided early warning for jökulhlaup (glacial flood) evacuation, allowing approximately 800 residents in the Markarfljót flood zone to evacuate safely before floodwaters arrived. The low death toll reflects both the sparse population around the volcano and Iceland's world-class volcanic hazard preparedness. However, the eruption's indirect health effects included respiratory irritation from fine ash exposure in downwind communities, and agricultural losses from tephra fall damaged crops and contaminated grazing land across southern Iceland.