Iceland volcano ash cloud alert raised to red again as risk of explosive Bardarbunga eruption grows
Iceland has raised warnings of a potential ash cloud from the Bárðarbunga volcano to red after eruptions over night near the Dyngjujokull Glacier.
The red aviation alert, its highest alert level, means significant emissions are "likely", though no ash has yet been detected.
The Icelandic met office said: “No volcanic ash has been detected with the radar system at the moment….Seismic eruption tremor is low indicating effusive eruption without significant explosive activity.”
The country’s air traffic control has closed down airspace in the area up to 18,000 feet in response.
While the potential for the volcano to create an ash cloud has increased, it is by no means certain due to the unpredictable nature of volcanic activity.
The risk was previously heightened on Saturday, however this was later downgraded back to orange as seismic activity decreased.
Iceland’s met office has outlined three scenarios in which the volcanic eruption is likely to playout, in which different geological events would create either no ash cloud, limited ash, or ”explosive ash-producing activity".