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Katla is one of the bigger volcanoes in Iceland
Katla, Hekla, Bárðarbunga, and Grímsvötn are well overdue a major eruption which could spark a travel disaster similar to the one that happened in 2010 when Iceland’s other major volcano, Eyjafjallajokull, erupted volcanoes.
Iceland is one of the most volcanically active nations in the world, and four huge volcanoes on the brink prove this.
Experts state there is a major eruption roughly every 44 years. Despite a few smaller ones, in recent years, including that in 2010, there has not been a significant eruption there since 1918, meaning it is massively overdue.
Pall Einarsson, geophysicist at the University of Iceland told Iceland Monitor: “Four of Iceland's volcanoes are showing increased amounts of activity in preparation for another eruption.”
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Hekla is the most likely to blow
Of the four on the edge, Hekla is the most likely to erupt, according to geologists, which could spark a “major disaster”.
Professor Einarsson added: “Hekla is ready – at any moment.
“There are also 20-30 planes full of passengers flying right over the top of Hekla every day.
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Grímsvötn has the potential to unleash chaos
“Hekla is a dangerous volcano.
“We could be looking at a major disaster when the next eruption begins if we are not careful.”
Katla, the biggest of the four volcanoes in question, has been showing signs of restlessness too, with seismologists monitoring the recent upturn in tremors.
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When it does finally erupt, scientists anticipate a massive ash plume being flung into the sky which would automatically shut down northern Europe’s airspace.
However, Kristín Jónsdóttir, natural hazard program director at the Icelandic Met Office told the Iceland Review that experts are unsure whether it will erupt any time soon.
Ms Jónsdóttir said: “It's been a long time since Katla erupted, and this could just as well end with an eruption. It's just impossible to tell right now.
“This could just as well die down, and nothing would result. We simply can't say at this stage.”
If it were to erupt, it could have a similar affect as its compatriot, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano.
Eyjafjallajokull – located just 23 kilometres from Katla – spewed so much as into the skies in April 2010 that it caused travel chaos around Europe.
Flights were grounded for days, leaving millions of people stranded.
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Bárðarbunga erupting
Such was the strength of the ash cloud that it caused the most air travel disruption since World War II.
Bárðarbunga and Grímsvötn, located near to each other, have also been showing signs that they might erupt.
Both are likely fuelled by the same magma supply, so if one goes, the other is likely to follow shortly after.
But as it stands, experts are not anticipating an eruption any time soon.
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