Morning MM. I have just been reading an article by Anna Agnarsdóttir covering Sir Joseph Banks' interest in Icelandic vulcanism. You might enjoy a look.

http://blogs.bl.uk/european/2018/04/why-did-joseph-banks-go-to-iceland-in-1772.html

Roger

It could have an affect on the Arctic circulation pattern though, which could have longer term implications for Europe. 

On an related note, my eldest daughter was telling me about the Mary Shelley film she wants to watch.

I then went into the tale about the background to Shelley's Frankenstein story - the summer spent at the Geneva villa during the 'year without a summer' and the wet, cold weather driving them inside the house for long periods, where they passed the time writing horror stories. The 'year without a summer' was of course the result of the eruption of Tambora. And another cultural influence it had was the paintings of Turner, with the stunning sunsets caused by the tephra in the atmosphere.

My daughter wasn't as enthusiastic about the background as I am.

Krakatau triggered a tsunami, hitting the coast around Indonesia's Sunda Strait

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-46663158.

It looks very nasty and given the past history and also (Anak) Karakatau’s “heritage” I think people are understandably worried.

It seems that the tsunami was caused by underwater activity or an underwater eruption, or at least that is the current theory. The volcano has been active for quite a long time so I’m not sure if this is a portent of something more significant.

Edit: I see that Darwin’s Volcano Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) has also noticed what appears to be an ash cloud to 55000ft in association with the eruption (although at time of writing this has yet to be confirmed).

It's starting to look like a major incident.

Indeed.  Obviously made worse by the tsunami htting at night and with no warnings (because it wasn't triggered by an earthquake).

Currently over 200 dead and 800 injured.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-asia-46664024

One positive is that this occurred not far from Jakarta so help has reached the area very quickly.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/indonesia-tsunami-what-is-anak-krakatoa-volcano-11057966

The 'child of Krakatoa' has grown to 1,000 feet asl since it emerged in 1928.  That's close on one foot per month.  I must admit I didn't realise it was that active.

Looks like flank collapse on Krakatau!

https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/krakatau/news/72509/Krakatau-volcano-Sunda-Strait-Indonesia-activity-update-Large-portion-of-Anak-Krakatau-appears-to-ha.html?fbclid=IwAR31N7vzMAHVjRrOGtH5dXE9NyR8iV3cOnGpumOuRcmZzlmqSAFhg6Vj8h0.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv6bAY3v5A8&fbclid=IwAR06zcBh_-UFDopawN2naSVvZOzBHz9R8ZlnncCqErUfrTPXLom20F4Hf_c.

I can understand Indonesian leaders promising a new tsunami warning system, on the principle of must be seen to do something - but it seems a bit doubtful that the 10 minutes or less warning in this case would have made a great deal of difference. For larger earthquake-based tsunamis, they will have to crack the problem of pilfering of spare parts from buoys or go for a (?) more expensive sea-floor system

Eruption of Krakatau continues with the news that it's now the subject of  3-mile exclusion zone for aircraft.

Meanwhile Etna renews its activity. The associated earthquake is stated to be unusual  for an Etna eruption - I'd have said that too - and the end of the article has a slightly ominous tailpiece about increased seismicity at Vesuvius which has averaged an eruption every 60 years over 2 millennia. (Last eruption was 1944)

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/26/680283644/sicily-is-shaken-by-earthquake-as-mount-etna-erupts-once-again 

Some more news on Krakatau and Etna, plus Stromboli.

http://www.earth-of-fire.com/2018/12/activity-of-anak-krakatau-etna-stromboli-mayon-and-merapi.html?fbclid=IwAR1CkShQhNK10eCH73KcJI8A4c5GvBo5zVdm9MI13-5GmPcRL1nDQpb8rVQ.

Very interesting!

As far as the injection of sulphates into the strat of the mid lat.s it's worth considering where most of the global industry producing Sulphates is located?

Perhaps there is something in the collapse of the Soviet union,also the reduction of coal burning, and reduction of cold easterlies? 

FWIW Etna is worth a visit as I type this.

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/sicilia/catania/vulcano-etna-nord.html

Nick

I wasn't expecting the snow scene as well, but it sets off the eruption perfectly

What a fantastic view! 

Popocatapetl in action

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/popocatepetl-eruption-today-volcano-mexico-ash-cloud-mud-slides-a8829301.html

Thank you DEW and Lionel

I love a good eruption as long as I am not next to the vents. Still waiting for Stromboli to begin a nighttime show again.

Nick