The Icelandic Meteorological Office has downgraded its no-fly aviation advisory code from red to orange as activity at the Bárðarbunga volcano has calmed.

 

The IMO upgraded the code yesterday after a small eruption in the volcanic system linked to Bárðarbunga – Iceland’s largest – was monitored by its scientists who have been constantly monitoring its behaviour for more than two weeks.

 

The previous ban on all aircraft flying at up to 18,000ft immediately around and above the volcano has now been lifted completely.

 

No steam or ash cloud has resulted from this small eruption, although the IMO pointedly says that this cannot be ruled out in future.

 

Small eruptions in the same system of fissures, but several miles away from a volcano can cause it to erupt as pressure builds up and this is exactly what happened with the Eyjafjallajökull volcano when it exploded in 2010, causing mayhem and a week-long shutdown of much of European air space.