Category: Bárðarbunga

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There might be a volcano eruption in less then a one year time in Báðarbunga volcano (Kistufell field)

I do not know if this is Icelandic media sensationalism or just a simple misquote in the news article. But according to Morgunblaðið (mbl.is) in a interview with the geologist named Sigurlaugar Hjaltadóttir (works at Icelandic Met Office) she sad that there is more risk of a eruption in north-west side of Vatnajökull glacier due to the high earthquake activity in the area. But while the earthquakes continue to be at great depth, there is a less chance of a eruption in the area.

But she might be referring to is that a earthquake activity in the area might be increasing because of Grímsfjall volcano and Bárðarbunga volcano interaction. But it remains be seen if that is the case or not here. It is however clear that only time is going to tell us if there is going to be a eruption in this area soon or not.

The news in Icelandic. Please use Google Translate or something similar to understand.

Gæti gosið innan árs (mbl.is)

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The earthquake activity at Kistufell (Bárðarbunga volcano)

There is been a highly localized earthquake swarm in Kistufell area in the highland. This area is well known in Iceland for high earthquake activity and often makes earthquakes that are close to Mb5.0 in size. The current earthquake swarm is rather small in comparison to many earthquake swarms that have taken place in this area before.

This does not mean that there is going to be a eruption there. As this area is highly activate in regards to tectonics forces in this area. But this area can erupt and has done so in the past. But this area belongs to the Bárðarbunga volcano and it has fissure types of eruptions when it erupts.

Here is a picture with the activity of this area in December 2009. As can be seen there, this area has a lot of earthquake activity almost all of the time. The text with the picture can be found here in Icelandic. Use Google Translate with the normal risks involved.

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Earthquakes between Grímsfjall and Bárðarbunga volcano. Earthquake swarm in Krísuvík volcano

Since Week 52 in the year 2010 there have been strange earthquakes between Bárðarbunga volcano and Grímsfjall volcano. It is hard to know exactly what this means. But it is clear that tension is rising fast in Grímsfjall volcano, as is evidence by the ML4.2 and ML3.5 earthquakes in Grímsfjall volcano few days ago. But this might be something, or this might simply be nothing at all. Only time is going to tell us what this means.

Far as I know, nothing like this was recorded before the Gjálp eruption (SIL earthquake data from 1996) between Grímsfjall volcano and Bárðarbunga volcano in the year 1996. But it is a important factor that the SIL network was a lot smaller back in those days.

Krísuvík volcano

This morning there has been a micro-earthquake swarm in Krísuvík volcano. The largest earthquakes have gone up to ML2.0 (automatic SIL data), with the focal depth of ~4 km. So far around 20 earthquakes have been recorded by the SIL system that Icelandic Met Office runs. This morning the earthquake swarm has quieted down a bit. But it is hard to know if it is over or not. But this area of Krísuvík volcano has been having a lot of micro-earthquakes swarms over the past few weeks. This has been followed by a uplift in the volcano (inflation). But that did start early last year after a short period of deflation.

Other then this, it remains quiet in Iceland volcano and earthquake wise.

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Update on new years activity and Eyjafjallajökull volcano

Here is the update for the new years activity in Iceland. During the new year there was a ML3.0 earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano system (local name is Kistufell). Where location of the earthquake swarm took place is known for a high level of earthquake activity in the past. So a earthquake swarm in that area is not a surprise and doesn’t mean anything special.

There has not been any more news on the rumble or the explosions in Eyjafjallajökull volcano since yesterday. It might well be that the event that was creating this noise is over. But I am far from sure on that due to lack of information. Due to cloud cover I am unable to see what is going at the top of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano with a web camera. What ever was going on in Eyjafjallajökull volcano it is clear that it was a powerful blast. One idea that I have had that this where a gas explosions of some type. But yesterday there where no reports of ash clouds or anything like that in the news. The weather forecast for the Eyjafjallajökull volcano area is not good for the next day or two. But currently the wind forecast is for a storm in the area of Eyjafjallajökull volcano and other mountains in south-east of Iceland.

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Location of the Hamarinn / Lokahryggur volcano

There are many volcanoes in Iceland that don’t enjoy the publicity and the fame like the most active volcanoes in Iceland. That list contains mountains like Hekla, Katla, Eyjafjallajökull, Grímsvötn (Grímsfjall) and so on.

Hamarinn or Lokahryggur (Loki-Fögrufjöll) as it sometimes called is a small volcano under the Vatnajökull glacier icecap. Over the history it has not made many known eruptions. The last eruptions was in the year 1910 according to Global Volcanism Program. But according to Global Volcanism Program there might have been a eruption in the year 2008 and before that in the year 2006. The full list of uncertain eruptions can be found here.

This volcano is inside Bárðarbunga fissure system. But is independent of Bárðarbunga volcano. Hamarinn volcano does not have any caldera according to studies.

Icelandic Met Office has a good map of this area, to my surprise. That map can be found here. This map shows well all the volcanoes that are not listed at Global Volcanism Program website as there own volcanoes, or they might not even be listed at all on there web page.

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More earthquakes at Hamarinn volcano

The volcano named Hamarinn in Vatnajökull glacier is a small and relativity unknown volcano in Iceland. As it has not erupted in recent history. Currently it is so unknown that it isn’t even properly registered at Global Volcanism Program website for this region in Iceland.

Currently the area is producing a lot of earthquakes. But those earthquakes appears to more tectonic in nature at this stage. Currently there is nothing indicating a imminent volcano eruption in the area. But that in it self might change with a short notice, as this area is volcano active. But it is also important to notice that the sequence that leads to a eruptions in this area is relativity unknown due to long dormancy in this area.

It is clear however that is worth keeping watch on this area in the nearest future. As history has shown that in Iceland that volcanoes do come with surprise eruptions with little to no warning at all. Hekla volcano is being the most famous volcano that behaves in such manner.