The Icelandic Civil Protection Agency has issued a warning regarding the glacial outburst flood in Skaftá river in Southern Iceland. Travellers are advised to stay away from three outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull glacier as it is not clear what path the flood waters are taking on their way beneath the glacier from the Eastern Skáftárketill caldera. The outburst flood is expected to emerge from beneath the glacier today.
Read more: Glacial outburst flood underway in Skaftá river in South Iceland
The Icelandic Civil Protection Agency has warned travellers and mountaineers to stay away from where the river emerges from beneath Tungnaárjökull, Skaftárjökull or Síðujökull glaciers and the rivers Skaftá and Hverfisfljót. Outburst floods are accompanied by poisonous gasses rich in sulphuric acid which escape from beneath the glacier with the water.
A scientist at the Icelandic Meteorological office believe the outburst flood could be larger than average floods in Skaftá. Snorri Zóphóníasson told The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the size of floods is positively correlated with the time which passes between them. The longer the wait, the larger the flood. The last time a flood came from the Eastern Skaftárketill caldera was five years ago in June 2010. Previously the caldera has released water more frequently, with the longest period between floods being three years, or 36 months.
Read more: Glacial outburst flood will have reached the ring road on Thursday evening
The local newspaper Morgunblaðið points out that despite this long wait between floods the ice cap above the eastern Skaftárketill had not risen any higher than previously suggesting the caldera might have hollowed out, allowing more water to collect.
Thanks to new and more precise equipment The Icelandic Meteorological Office has never been able to identify the beginnings of a flood this early. In the past floods have only been discovered when they emerge from beneath the glacier, but thanks to new precision GPS measurements above the calderas scientists were able to note exactly the moment when the flood began.
The Icelandic Civil Protection Agency has issued a warning regarding the glacial outburst flood in Skaftá river in Southern Iceland. Travellers are advised to stay away from three outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull glacier as it is not clear what path the flood waters are taking on their way beneath the glacier from the Eastern Skáftárketill caldera. The outburst flood is expected to emerge from beneath the glacier today.
Read more: Glacial outburst flood underway in Skaftá river in South Iceland
The Icelandic Civil Protection Agency has warned travellers and mountaineers to stay away from where the river emerges from beneath Tungnaárjökull, Skaftárjökull or Síðujökull glaciers and the rivers Skaftá and Hverfisfljót. Outburst floods are accompanied by poisonous gasses rich in sulphuric acid which escape from beneath the glacier with the water.
A scientist at the Icelandic Meteorological office believe the outburst flood could be larger than average floods in Skaftá. Snorri Zóphóníasson told The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the size of floods is positively correlated with the time which passes between them. The longer the wait, the larger the flood. The last time a flood came from the Eastern Skaftárketill caldera was five years ago in June 2010. Previously the caldera has released water more frequently, with the longest period between floods being three years, or 36 months.
Read more: Glacial outburst flood will have reached the ring road on Thursday evening
The local newspaper Morgunblaðið points out that despite this long wait between floods the ice cap above the eastern Skaftárketill had not risen any higher than previously suggesting the caldera might have hollowed out, allowing more water to collect.
Thanks to new and more precise equipment The Icelandic Meteorological Office has never been able to identify the beginnings of a flood this early. In the past floods have only been discovered when they emerge from beneath the glacier, but thanks to new precision GPS measurements above the calderas scientists were able to note exactly the moment when the flood began.
