Bárðarbunga
 |
| Bárðarbunga | |
|---|---|
  Bárðarbunga Map of Iceland showing the location of Bárðarbunga. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,009 m (6,591 ft) |
| Prominence | 550 m (1,800 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Vatnajokull, Iceland |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | approx. over 100 years |
| Mountain type | Subglacial volcano/Icelandic stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | June to October 1910 |
Bárðarbunga (pronounced [b'aurðarbuŋka]), Bardarbunga (Anglophone spelling), is a stratovolcano located under the Vatnajökull glacier in Iceland. It rises to 2,009 metres (6,591 ft) above sea level, making it the second highest mountain in Iceland and part of the largest volcanic system, considered to be close to 200 kilometres (120 mi) long and up to 25 kilometres (16 mi) wide.
Description
Bárðarbunga is a subglacial stratovolcano[1] located under the ice cap of Vatnajökull glacier, rising 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 70 square kilometres, up to 10 kilometres (6 mi) wide and about 700 metres (2,300 ft) deep.[1] The surrounding edges rise up to 1850 metres but the base is on average close to 1100 metres. The volcano is covered in ice, hiding the glacier-filled crater.
Bárðarbunga was a little-known volcano in Iceland due to its remote location and infrequent eruptions, 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 without an eruption, thus the volcano is still active. There has been frequent volcanic activity outside the glacier to the south-west in the highlands between Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, also to the north-east toward Dyngjufjöll.
Eruptions
Throughout history there have been large eruptions every 250–600 years. Þjórsá Lava is the largest holocene lava flow on the earth,[1] it originated from Bárðarbunga about 8,500 years ago, with a total volume of 21[1] to 30 cubic kilometres, covering approximately 950 square kilometres. The largest eruption from Bárðarbunga had a VEI of 6, many smaller-sized eruptions have been recorded in the past 10000 years.[1]
870 and 1440
Many large eruptions have occurred south-west of the glacier, of which two have been since human settlement of Iceland: the Vatnaöldur eruption about 870 and the Veiðivötn eruption in 1480. Both were very large eruptions that would have had major effects on life in Iceland and neighbouring countries.
1701 - 1864
Studies of tephra layers have shown that a number of eruptions have occurred beneath the glacier itself, 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 1701–40 and since 1780. There hasn't been an eruption in the glacier or the system since 1862-4.[clarification needed].
1996
The Gjálp fissure 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
In September 2010, an earthquake swarm occurred near Bárðarbunga, with over 30 earthquakes recorded on 26 September, the largest quakes measuring 3.5 and 3.7 on the moment magnitude scale.[citation needed]
2014
In August 2014, another earthquake swarm occurred, with at least 1,155 earthquakes recorded on August 16 and 17, of which the largest had a magnitude of around 4.5 on the moment magnitude scale.[2][3][4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Bárdarbunga". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ Rei. Just To Let You All Know. Daily Kos. 8-17-2014. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/17/1322378/-Just-To-Let-You-All-Know
- ^ http://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/nr/2936
- ^ http://www.ruv.is/frett/1155-skjalftar-sidustu-tvo-solarhringa