Restored buildings in Roman town buried in AD 79 by ash flows from Mount Vesuvius, in the background, Pompeii, UNESCO World Heritage site, Campania, Italy, Europe

Ash, rock and sulphur at the smoking summit of 3350m high volcano Mount Etna during an active phase, Mount Etna, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sicily, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

Mount Vesuvius seen from the ruins of Pompeii, buried in the ash flow of the eruption of AD 79, Columbus basalt lava marble and brick, Pompeii, UNESCO World Heritage site, Campania, Italy, Europe

Eruptions at the Monti Calcarazzi fissure and the Piano del Lago cone, above, on Mount Etna that threatened tourist facilities and villages in 2001, Sicily, Italy, Europe

Mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) and silver birch {Betula pendula), and fast flowing stream, autumn colour, Ruska, Muonio, Lapland, Finland, Europe

View from M√Ωrdalsjoekull Glacier towards the volcanic ash cloud from the eruption of the Fimmvoer√∞uh√°ls Volcano, between M√Ωrdalsjoekull and Eyjafjallajoekull, Highland, Iceland, Europe

View from M√Ωrdalsjoekull Glacier towards the volcanic ash cloud from the eruption of the Fimmvoer√∞uh√°ls Volcano, between M√Ωrdalsjoekull and Eyjafjallajoekull, Highland, Iceland, Europe

Cloud of ash from Eyjafjallajoekull volcano and a steam plume from the lava flow in Gigjoekull glacier tongue, Iceland, Europe

Eruption of Eyjafjallajoekull volcano, Iceland, Europe

Eruption of Eyjafjallajoekull volcano, Iceland, Europe

A flash of lightning in the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajoekull Volcano while it ejects magma, lava flow in front of the glacier producing a water vapor cloud, Eyjafjallajoekull, Iceland, Europe

Eruption of Eyjafjallajoekull volcano, fiorsmoerk, Iceland, Europe

Ash cloud of the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano, steam plume from the lava flow in Gigjoekull glacier tongue, and exit point of the previous flood, Gigjoekull, Iceland, Europe

Eyjafjallajoekull volcano, the ash cloud mirroring in a small lake, fiorsmoerk, Thorsmoerk mountain ridge, Iceland, Europe

Iceland horses in front of the ash cloud of the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano, Landeyjar, South Iceland, Iceland, Europe

Lightning flashes in a charged cloud of ash from Eyjafjallajoekull Volcano, April 2010, Iceland, Europe

Stromboli Island, volcano, eruption, clouds of ash, Aeolian Islands, Sicily, Italy

Ash-covered landscape and a vapor cloud under the sun-drenched morning cloud of ash from Eyjafjallajoekull Volcano, Iceland, Europe

Frost-covered European Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) fruit

Eyjafjallajoekull volcano, ash cloud, South Iceland, Iceland, Europe

Aerial view, ash structures from the Grimsvoetn volcano in the ice of the Vatnajoekull glacier, south Iceland, Europe

Black bird (Turdus merula) eating European mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) berries on a branche, Parc naturel regional des Vosges du Nord, France

Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) eating European mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) berries on a branche, Parc naturel regional des Vosges du Nord, France