Recent pick-up in seismic activity in the giant volcano Katla has raised the likelihood of an eruption significantly. The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management board of scientists met on Friday to review the recent increase in activity in the Katla caldera. The authorities fear that growing tourism in the region around Katla poses challenges for emergency evacuation in the case of an eruption.
Increasing seismic and geothermal activity raises concern
According to the minutes of the board of scientists, the volcano has been showing increasing activity since August 2016. There are also signs of increasing geothermal activity in the Katla caldera, and significant expansion of the upper layers of the crust in the caldera. Such expansion, as well as the increasing geothermal activity, is likely caused by magma thrusting its way into the volcano‘s magma chambers.
Read more: Giant volcano Katla hit with a powerful 4.3 magnitude earthquake
While there are no signs of an imminent eruption the board of scientists feels that the growing activity suggests the likelihood of an eruption has increased, warranting even closer monitoring of the volcano.
A powerful 4.3 magnitude earthquake shook the volcano on Thursday. The earthquake was felt in the nearby town of Vík. Katla, one of Iceland‘s most powerful volcanoes, is located beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier in South Iceland. Katla, which has erupted on average every 60-80 years, is believed to be long overdue for an eruption. The last eruption took place in 1918.
Growing tourism poses challenges
Police in South Iceland worries that growing numbers of foreign travellers can make evacuation of areas close to the volcano more difficult. An eruption in the sub-glacial volcano could lead to massive glacial outburst floods on the black sand beaches south of Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
The glacial rivers of Mýrdalsjökull flow over the floodplains of Mýrdalssandur, Sólheimasandur and Markarfljótsaurar. Large numbers of tourists cross these every day, as the Ring Road crosses the floodplains, and their black sand beaches draw thousands of tourists. Seljalandsfoss waterfall, one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Iceland sits on the east edge of the Markarfljótsaurar flood plain, and the village of Vík is located at the western edge of Mýrdalssandur.
Recent pick-up in seismic activity in the giant volcano Katla has raised the likelihood of an eruption significantly. The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management board of scientists met on Friday to review the recent increase in activity in the Katla caldera. The authorities fear that growing tourism in the region around Katla poses challenges for emergency evacuation in the case of an eruption.
Increasing seismic and geothermal activity raises concern
According to the minutes of the board of scientists, the volcano has been showing increasing activity since August 2016. There are also signs of increasing geothermal activity in the Katla caldera, and significant expansion of the upper layers of the crust in the caldera. Such expansion, as well as the increasing geothermal activity, is likely caused by magma thrusting its way into the volcano‘s magma chambers.
Read more: Giant volcano Katla hit with a powerful 4.3 magnitude earthquake
While there are no signs of an imminent eruption the board of scientists feels that the growing activity suggests the likelihood of an eruption has increased, warranting even closer monitoring of the volcano.
A powerful 4.3 magnitude earthquake shook the volcano on Thursday. The earthquake was felt in the nearby town of Vík. Katla, one of Iceland‘s most powerful volcanoes, is located beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier in South Iceland. Katla, which has erupted on average every 60-80 years, is believed to be long overdue for an eruption. The last eruption took place in 1918.
Growing tourism poses challenges
Police in South Iceland worries that growing numbers of foreign travellers can make evacuation of areas close to the volcano more difficult. An eruption in the sub-glacial volcano could lead to massive glacial outburst floods on the black sand beaches south of Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
The glacial rivers of Mýrdalsjökull flow over the floodplains of Mýrdalssandur, Sólheimasandur and Markarfljótsaurar. Large numbers of tourists cross these every day, as the Ring Road crosses the floodplains, and their black sand beaches draw thousands of tourists. Seljalandsfoss waterfall, one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Iceland sits on the east edge of the Markarfljótsaurar flood plain, and the village of Vík is located at the western edge of Mýrdalssandur.
