Veteran Icelandic volcanologist Haraldur Sigurðsson has put forward a theory predicting that the Holuhraun eruption will come to an end in March 2015. Haraldur is a world-renowned volcanologist and the owner of the Volcano Museum in Stykkishólmur town, West Iceland.
Haraldur's prediction is based on his theory that the ongoing subsidence in the center of the Bárðarbunga caldera is an exponential function that will gradually slow down relieving the pressure in the volcanic system that supplies magma to the Holuhraun eruption.
Bárðarbunga caldera is at the center of a 200 km (124 mi) long volcanic system. The huge 10 km (6,2 mi) wide caldera is located underneath an 850-meter (2788 ft.) thick ice cap in Vatnajökull glacier. The ongoing Holuhraun eruption is in an ice free zone about 35 km (25 mi) north of the caldera.
Since the earthquakes began in Bárðarbunga, August 16th, the ice in the centre of the caldera has sunk at least 30 m (97 ft.) and continues to subside. According to Haraldur this scenario will come to an end in March. That's a brave prediction indeed.
Veteran Icelandic volcanologist Haraldur Sigurðsson has put forward a theory predicting that the Holuhraun eruption will come to an end in March 2015. Haraldur is a world-renowned volcanologist and the owner of the Volcano Museum in Stykkishólmur town, West Iceland.
Haraldur's prediction is based on his theory that the ongoing subsidence in the center of the Bárðarbunga caldera is an exponential function that will gradually slow down relieving the pressure in the volcanic system that supplies magma to the Holuhraun eruption.
Bárðarbunga caldera is at the center of a 200 km (124 mi) long volcanic system. The huge 10 km (6,2 mi) wide caldera is located underneath an 850-meter (2788 ft.) thick ice cap in Vatnajökull glacier. The ongoing Holuhraun eruption is in an ice free zone about 35 km (25 mi) north of the caldera.
Since the earthquakes began in Bárðarbunga, August 16th, the ice in the centre of the caldera has sunk at least 30 m (97 ft.) and continues to subside. According to Haraldur this scenario will come to an end in March. That's a brave prediction indeed.
