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UK and Iceland agree to pool resources for future volcanic eruptions

15 December 2010

The British and Icelandic governments have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding relating to the sharing of information and resources in the event of future volcanic eruptions in Iceland.

The announcement has been made by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS).

This follows considerable co-operation between researchers from the two countries during the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull last April.

Two of the Natural Environment Research Council's research centres - the British Geological Survey and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science - visited Iceland at the time of the eruption and subsequent ash plume, to share data and expertise with the Icelandic Met Office and Institute of Earth Sciences.

NERC and the UK Met Office also have a Memorandum of Understanding in place with these Icelandic research organisations.

Professor Alan Thorpe, Chief Executive of NERC, said, "The paralysis of UK and European air traffic as a result of the volcanic ash plume earlier this year was unprecedented. The environmental and health risks were uncertain.

"Collaboration is vital if we are to ensure an efficient, co-ordinated response to such emergencies in future, so this formal understanding between our two countries can only be beneficial, to the research communities, to industries and to governments."

A number of NERC scientists are members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, which is chaired by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir John Beddington.

Further information

NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411561
Mob: 07917 557215

Notes

1. More information is available in the BIS press release.

Briefing note: 07/10