Iceland issues volcano aviation alert

Bardarbunga: At least this one is easier to pronounce Photo: Sparkle Motion

Iceland disrupted travel across Europe in 2010 when a volcano called Eyjafjallajokull erupted, its ash causing as much trouble for airplanes as its spelling did for everyone else.

Now, another volcano is threatening to do the same - although this one is at least easier to pronounce.

The Bardarbunga volcano, which is located in central Iceland, erupted on Friday for four hours, although it was eventually deemed not to pose a severe risk for flights. Yesterday, though, the Iceland Met Office, issued a fresh warning following a fresh lava eruption from a fissure near Bardabunga.

Planes were banned from flying within 6,000 feet of the volcano's peak, reports the BBC, to avoid any potential interference with aircraft. Fortunately, though, the eruption, despite being more active than Friday's, was calm, with lots of lava but little ash.

"No ash has been detected. The Aviation Colour Code for Bardarbunga has therefore been reset to orange," said the Met Office. Orange is the second highest level of threat.

This is the third eruption to have been recorded in the same location within the last week.