Iceland Volcano: The Next Eruption

As a giant ash cloud brings Europe’s airlines to a standstill, this fast turnaround film looks at the science behind the eruption of Iceland’s volcano.

SYNOPSIS

It was the volcano that brought Europe’s air traffic to a standstill, leaving thousands of passengers stranded around the world. When Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull blew in April 2010, molten rock up to 1,100°c hit the glacier above. A giant ash cloud formed, rising to a jaw-dropping 10,600 metres. But what led to such unprecedented chaos? How can ash that cannot even be detected by radar systems pose a threat to modern aircraft? And could this be just the beginning of a series of much bigger eruptions? Drawing on the expertise of leading volcanologists and with stunning first-hand footage, this film looks at the science behind this extraordinary event, and the volcanoes that could affect us in the future.