The geoscientist on of the Icelandic Met Office and the University of Iceland Institute of Earth Sciences, have just released a new joint status report.
According to the report there are no indications that the intensity of the activity in the Bárðarbunga volcanic system is declining.
The scientists consider three scenarios are most likely:
- The migration of magma could stop, attended by a gradual reduction in seismic activity.
- The dike could reach the surface of the crust, starting an eruption. In this scenario, it is most likely that the eruption would be near the northern tip of the dike. This would most likely produce an effusive lava eruption with limited explosive, ash-producing activity.
- An alternate scenario would be the dike reaching the surface where a significant part, or all, of the fissure is beneath the glacier. This would most likely produce a flood in Jökulsá á Fjöllum river and perhaps explosive, ash-producing activity.
Of those number three, an eruption under the ice cap, is the worst case scenario. Glacial flood could leave a huge mark on affected areas and explosive ash-producing activity could endanger air travel.
The scientist do not exclud other scenarios. For example, an eruption inside the Bárdarbunga caldera is possible but presently considered to be less likely.
The geoscientist on of the Icelandic Met Office and the University of Iceland Institute of Earth Sciences, have just released a new joint status report.
According to the report there are no indications that the intensity of the activity in the Bárðarbunga volcanic system is declining.
The scientists consider three scenarios are most likely:
- The migration of magma could stop, attended by a gradual reduction in seismic activity.
- The dike could reach the surface of the crust, starting an eruption. In this scenario, it is most likely that the eruption would be near the northern tip of the dike. This would most likely produce an effusive lava eruption with limited explosive, ash-producing activity.
- An alternate scenario would be the dike reaching the surface where a significant part, or all, of the fissure is beneath the glacier. This would most likely produce a flood in Jökulsá á Fjöllum river and perhaps explosive, ash-producing activity.
Of those number three, an eruption under the ice cap, is the worst case scenario. Glacial flood could leave a huge mark on affected areas and explosive ash-producing activity could endanger air travel.
The scientist do not exclud other scenarios. For example, an eruption inside the Bárdarbunga caldera is possible but presently considered to be less likely.
