More Icelandic volcanic eruptions could cripple Europe

Nearly three years ago in mid April of 2010, the volcano beneath the Eyjafjallajokull Glacier in Iceland had a prolonged series of dusty eruptions that nearly crippled the European airline industry for a full week.

More than half of the normal 28,000 daily flights across Europe were cancelled by thick clouds of ash that were capable of knocking out jet engines.

The airlines reported daily losses between April 13 and April 20, 2010, of more than $200 million. The total losses for the week that air traffic was disrupted approached $2 billion.

Agriculture suffered across Europe during an unusually chilly summer season in 2010, the direct results from the early spring volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Heavier than normal winter snows in the British Isles and much of northern and central Europe were likewise blamed, at least partially, on the eruptions.

The main reason that I'm writing about the 2010 volcanic eruptions in Iceland is that even greater magnitude eruptions are likely in the near future, according to a recent documentary on the Science and Nature Channel narrated by actor Jeremy Irons.

Iceland's most active volcano, Grimsvotn, last erupted in 1998. It is overdue for a major eruption that could cripple European air travel for weeks on end rather than merely days as occurred with the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruptions.

There are several other potentially dangerous volcanoes situated along the Icelandic Ridge in the middle of Iceland, which features the well-known Laki Fissure. This fissure produced the world's largest lava flow in human history in 1783, approximately 3.5 cubic miles over a seven month period.

More than 9,000 people died from starvation and disease after their fields were completely covered by thick lava. This was Iceland's worst natural disaster on record. It could happen again. Only time will tell.

ADDED NOTE ON ICELAND'S MASS HERRING DEATHS

More than 10,000 tons of herring, valued at near $10 million, were found dead in the Kolgrafafjordur Fjord early this past week.

Unusually low oxygen levels were to blame for the fish die off. Roughly one season's herring production has been lost.

Some observers blame recent construction in the region for the fish kills. Others blame poisonous volcanic gases that expand during the winter months.

NORTH IDAHO WEATHER REVIEW AND LONG-RANGE OUTLOOKS

Despite the fact that the first part of February was mostly dry and mild, I still see at least 15 to 20 inches of new snow in our area during the second half of February, March and early April. That would push our 2012-13 seasonal snowfall total upwards to near 80 inches or approximately 10 inches above the 118-year snowfall normal since 1895 of 69.8 inches.

Remember, folks, we tend to get our snowy days in 'bunches,' usually on the back side of a huge high pressure ridge that breaks down in the eastern Pacific waters leaving the so-called 'storm door' open to the chilly air from the Gulf of Alaska. This frequently occurs in the late winter and early spring period. The 'good news' is that these snows usually melt quickly in the driveway.

Another reason that I'm looking for more snow locally in the next 6 to 8 weeks is that Meteorologist Randy Mann is telling me that a new cool and wet 'La Nina' sea-surface temperature event is currently shaping up in the Equatorial regions of the Pacific Ocean. We are still in the in-between stages of 'La Nada,' but we could see some unusually cold and snowy weather patterns across the Inland Northwest, if the effects of La Nina arrive soon.

In the meantime, enjoy the welcome 'break' in the weather, but stay off the thin ice of the area's lakes. They are DANGEROUS to say the least.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Cliff Harris is a climatologist who writes a weekly column for The Press. His opinions are his own. Email sfharris@roadrunner.com