Posted on by Jón Frímann

Inflation confirmed at Bárðarbunga volcano

Iceland Met Office confirmed today that inflation has started in Bárðarbunga volcano. According to images released by Iceland Met Office this inflation is not huge at the moment, that might change without warning if magma starts flowing into Bárðarbunga volcano magma chamber at faster rate then it currently is doing.

KISA.18.11.2015
Inflation as recorded by Iceland Met Office. This recording has been corrected for normal tectonic drift, glacier movements and dyke intrusion from Holuhraun eruption. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

bbbegingpseqmaperuption.18.11.2015
The inflation as it appears on GPS station on Bárðarbunga volcano. It has been corrected in the same was image above. Arrow show much the inflation is on each GPS station and the direction it is moving. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

The problem here is that Bárðarbunga volcano continues to settle into new form after the eruption in Holuhraun, since there was a quiet magma chamber collapse during that eruption. The question remains how much strain the caldera can now take after the collapse and other unknown factor is that it is not known how much magma is needed before an new eruption can start or how long time this process takes. For the moment the only thing that can be done is to continue monitor what is going on in Bárðarbunga volcano.

17 Replies to “Inflation confirmed at Bárðarbunga volcano”

  1. Interesting info indeed. I wonder what the measurements would be on the SE of the caldera?

  3. Some ongoing activity in the evening hours on 19th Oct. recorded at SIL station “Fedgar”, which is closest to Hekla!
    hraun.vedur.is/ja/drumplot/drumplot/fed.png
    http://hraun.vedur.is/ja/oroi/fed.gif

    Looks like a small swarm.
    IMO isn’t showing anything on their webpage yet.

    1. Yes, but as Jon says it will depend on the flow rate of returning magma, there may be another easier route for it to the surface as with holuhraun if it fills at a slow rate. There’s a lot of fractured rock Down there though!

    2. Worth noting that this station shows inflation on the ridge not of the actual caldera plug.

  7. Looks like another tremor spike coming in at von/dyn this evening. Looks clear on Jon’s webicorder too.

  8. or technically 22 minus the first two according to my 10 year old grandson.

    I notice that there has also been a swarm of quakes near Askja, is this anything to be concerned about?

  9. Jack,
    I know little what’s going on, or able to interpret any data, but I am fascinated by Iceland.
    It has all gone a bit quiet on this site and I check it a couple of times a day. When things are happening, there are lots of comments, and when its quiet in Iceland, this site goes into sleep mode. There are some very intelligent and informed people on this site and questions often go answered.
    Bardy keeps everyone guessing, and cool that your Grandson is interested !
    David

    1. Yes, it is quiet at the moment and might remain so until something happens. I don’t write a lot about historic eruptions since doing so would mean a lit of extra work for me and I’m doing others thing along side writing here (mostly writing science fiction and taking pictures).

      The quiet normally never lasts for long, something always happens in Iceland.

      1. Jon I look at the number of quakes in Iceland and I cannot believe there is ever a “quiet moment” there. Do you ever share your sci fi writing? Its my other love besides volcanoes!

    1. Yes I see and look at the shape it has produced. I would take a guess and say magma has entered the chamber and this was the outline of the magma chamber underneath.

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