Scientists and members of the press have been evacuated from the Holuhraun eruption area as seismic results indicate that the ongoing eruption is progressing southward under Dyngjujökull, an outlet glacier in Vatnajökull glacier. If a sub-glacial eruption begins it would lead to immediate flooding hazards on the floodplain in front of Dyngjujökull outlet. The volcanic fissure in Holuhraun is only 5 km (3.1 mi) from the ice cap.
According to the Scientific Advisory Board of the Icelandic Civil Protection recent radar images show a 500-1.000 m (1.640-3.280 ft) wide depression that has formed both in front of and beneath Dyngjujökull outlet. Signs of the depression extend about 2 km (1.2 mi) into the ice cap.
The increasing thickness of the glacier decreases the visual extent of fracturing associated with the depression, so it is likely that the area extends further beneath Dyngjujökull.
Dyngjujökull and Holuhraun are parts of Bárðarbunga, Iceland's largest volcanic system and one of the largest volcanic systems on the planet.
Scientists and members of the press have been evacuated from the Holuhraun eruption area as seismic results indicate that the ongoing eruption is progressing southward under Dyngjujökull, an outlet glacier in Vatnajökull glacier. If a sub-glacial eruption begins it would lead to immediate flooding hazards on the floodplain in front of Dyngjujökull outlet. The volcanic fissure in Holuhraun is only 5 km (3.1 mi) from the ice cap.
According to the Scientific Advisory Board of the Icelandic Civil Protection recent radar images show a 500-1.000 m (1.640-3.280 ft) wide depression that has formed both in front of and beneath Dyngjujökull outlet. Signs of the depression extend about 2 km (1.2 mi) into the ice cap.
The increasing thickness of the glacier decreases the visual extent of fracturing associated with the depression, so it is likely that the area extends further beneath Dyngjujökull.
Dyngjujökull and Holuhraun are parts of Bárðarbunga, Iceland's largest volcanic system and one of the largest volcanic systems on the planet.
