Bárðarbunga

Bárðarbunga

Highest point
Elevation 2,009 m (6,591 ft)
Prominence 550 m (1,800 ft)
Coordinates 64°38′27.6″N 17°31′40.8″W / 64.641000°N 17.528000°W / 64.641000; -17.528000Coordinates: 64°38′27.6″N 17°31′40.8″W / 64.641000°N 17.528000°W / 64.641000; -17.528000
Geography
Bárðarbunga

Map of Iceland showing the location of Bárðarbunga.

Location Vatnajökull, Iceland
Geology
Age of rock over 10000 years
Mountain type Subglacial volcano/Icelandic stratovolcano
Last eruption 29 August 2014 to 27 February 2015

Bárðarbunga (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈpaurðarpuŋka]),[1] Bardarbunga (Anglophone spelling), is a stratovolcano located under Vatnajökull, Iceland's most extensive glacier. The second highest mountain in Iceland, 2,009 metres (6,591 ft) above sea level, Bárðarbunga is also part of a volcanic system that is approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) long and 25 kilometres (16 mi) wide.

Description

Bárðarbunga is a subglacial stratovolcano[2] located under the ice cap of Vatnajökull glacier within the Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland. It rises to 2,009 metres (6,591 ft) above sea level, making it the second highest mountain in Iceland, about 101 metres (331 ft) lower than Hvannadalshnjúkur. The caldera is about 80 square kilometres, up to 10 km wide and about 700 metres (2,300 ft) deep.[2] The surrounding edges rise up to 1,850 metres but the base is on average close to 1,100 metres. The volcano is covered in ice to a depth of 850m, hiding the glacier-filled crater. The associated volcanic system and fissure swarm is about 190 km long and 25 km wide.[3]

Bárðarbunga was a little-known volcano in Iceland due to its remote location and infrequent eruptions approximately once every 50 years, but recent studies have shown that many tephra layers originally thought to be from other volcanoes were ejected from Bárðarbunga.

Sustained seismic activity has occurred in Bárðarbunga for some years, only recently leading to an eruption. The previous eruption was in 1910. There has been frequent volcanic activity outside the glacier to the southwest in the highlands between Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, and also to the northeast toward Dyngjufjöll.

Over the last seven years seismic activity has been gradually increasing in Bárðarbunga and the fissure swarm to the north of the volcano. This activity decreased after the Grímsvötn eruption in May 2011, but has now returned to a similar level as before the eruption.

Etymology

Bárðarbunga is named after an early Icelandic settler named Gnúpa-Bárður, and literally translates as "Bárður's bulge" or "Bárður's bump" since "Bárðar" is the genitive case (possessive case) of "Bárður". [4]

Eruptions and notable activity

Throughout history there have been large eruptions every 250–600 years. In 1477, the largest known eruption from Bárðarbunga had a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 6; there is evidence of many smaller eruptions during the past 10,000 years.[2]

6600 BC

Þjórsá Lava, the largest holocene lava flow on earth,[2] originated from Bárðarbunga about 8,500 years ago, with a total volume of 21[2] to 30 cubic kilometres and covering approximately 950 square kilometres.[5]

870

Many large eruptions have occurred south-west of the glacier, the first since human settlement of Iceland was the Vatnaöldur eruption about 870 which had a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 4.[2]

1477

The Veiðivötn eruption in 1477 is the largest known Icelandic eruption, with a VEI of 6.[2]

1701–1864

Studies of tephra layers have shown that a number of eruptions have occurred beneath the glacier, probably in the north-east of the crater or in Bárðarbunga. There have also been smaller eruptions in an ice-free area of Dyngjuháls to the north-east. Eruptions appear to follow a cycle: there were several eruptions in the glacier between 1701 and 1740 and since 1780.

1910 eruption

1910 was the last known eruption of Bárðarbunga before the 2014 eruptions.[6]

1996

The Gjálp fissure vent eruption in 1996 revealed that an interaction may exist between Bárðarbunga and Grímsvötn. A strong earthquake in Bárðarbunga, about 5 on the Richter scale, is believed to have started the eruption in Gjálp.

2010

On 26 September 2010, an earthquake swarm was recorded with over 30 earthquakes measuring up to 3.7MW on the moment magnitude scale.

2014–2015

In August 2014, a swarm of around 1,600 earthquakes in 48-hours, with magnitudes up to 4.5MW, [7][8] was followed on 23 August by the USGS Aviation Color Codes being raised from orange to red, indicating an eruption in progress.[9] The following day, the aviation risk was lowered from red to orange and the statement that there was an eruption in progress was retracted.[10] However, later aerial observations of glacial depressions southeast of the volcano suggested that the now-retracted report of an eruption had been correct and that a short eruption did occur under the ice, but the lack of further melting indicated that this eruption had now ceased. Then, a new fissure eruption breached the surface between Bárðarbunga and Askja, in the Holuhraun lava field, in the early hours of 29 August.[11] This was followed by a second fissure eruption in the Holuhraun area, along the same volcanic fissure, which started shortly after 4am on 31 August.[12]

The eruption has emitted large volumes of sulphur dioxide and impacted air quality in Iceland. There was no effect on flights outside of the immediate vicinity as the eruption hasn't produced a significant amount of volcanic ash.

On February 28, 2015 it was officially reported that the eruption is over.[13] Nevertheless, the gas pollution still exists, and the area north of Bárðarbunga, including volcanoes Askja and Herðubreið, still remained closed for visitors.

On March 16, 2015 the area north of Bárðarbunga was opened for visitors, excluding the new lava field and the area within 20 meters around it.[14]

1950 aircraft emergency landing

On 14 September 1950 a Douglas C-54 Skymaster aircraft belonging to the Icelandic airline Loftleiðir made an emergency landing on the Vatnajökull glacier at Bárðarbunga during a cargo flight from Luxembourg to Reykjavík.[15] There were no fatalities, but damaged radio equipment left them unable to communicate their location. After two days the crew started the emergency SOS signal beacon in the rubber life-raft and a Loftleiðir Catalina aircraft spotted them. The C-54's cargo included the body of a deceased USAF colonel, prompting American assistance. A USAF C-47 equipped with skis landed on the glacier but was unable to take off again, so it had to be abandoned. After six days both crews were rescued by a ski-patrol from Akureyri. Later Loftleiðir bought the stranded C-47 from the USAF for $700.[16] In April 1951 it was dug out of the snow and towed down the mountain by two bulldozers, where it was started and flown to Reykjavik.[17][18][19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ mbl.is (2011-05-22). "How To Pronounce "Bárðarbunga"". YouTube.com. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bárdarbunga". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  3. ↑ http://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/nr/2968
  4. ↑ Stofnun Árna Magnússonar - í íslenskum fraedum. Bárðarbunga
  5. ↑ Árni Hjartarson 1988: „Þjórsárhraunið mikla - stærsta nútímahraun jarðar“. Náttúrufræðingurinn 58: 1-16.
  6. ↑ http://en.vedur.is/media/jar/Bardarbunga_kafli20140825.pdf
  7. ↑ Gunnar Dofri Ólafsson, 1.600 earthquakes in 48 hours. mbl.is. 2014-08-19.
  8. ↑ "Activity in Bárðarbunga volcano- News- About IMO- Icelandic Meteorological Office". En.vedur.is. 2014-08-16. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  9. ↑ Icelandic Met Office (2014-08-23). "Bárðarbunga - updated information". Icelandic Met Office. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
  10. ↑ BBC (2014-08-24). "Iceland volcano: Aviation risk level from Bardarbunga lowered". BBC. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  11. ↑ "Eruption Started Between Barðarbunga and Askja in Iceland". Wired.com. 2014-08-29. Retrieved 2014-08-29.
  12. ↑ "Scientists: Bigger Eruption, Moves North. 500 Earthquakes". Icelandreview.com. 2014-08-31. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
  13. ↑ 28 February 2015 12:00 - declaration from the Scientific Advisory Board
  14. ↑ Reduction of the access controlled area north of Vatnajökull
  15. ↑ http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19500914-0
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ 1950 accident at the Aviation Safety Network
  18. ↑ Timeline of the search for the Geysir at gopfrettir.net (in Icelandic)
  19. ↑ Timarit - Iceland. Lögberg-Heimskringla.

External links

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