Ash generation and distribution from the April-May 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland

Abstract

The 39-day long eruption at the summit of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in April–May 2010 was of modest size but ash was widely dispersed. By combining data from ground surveys and remote sensing we show that the erupted material was 4.8±1.2·10¹¹ kg (benmoreite and trachyte, dense rock equivalent volume 0.18±0.05 km³). About 20% was lava and water-transported tephra, 80% was airborne tephra (bulk volume 0.27 km³) transported by 3–10 km high plumes. The airborne tephra was mostly fine ash (diameter 10 kg (70 Tg) was very fine ash (2 in Europe and the North Atlantic. Of order 10¹⁰ kg (2%) are considered to have been transported longer than 600–700 km with 8 kg (<0.02%) reaching mainland Europe.