Another quite powerful earthquake swarm hit Katla volcano at 12.03 (12.03 pm) today when several quakes larger than magnitude 3 struck at the volcano. The Iceland Met Office (IMO) has raised the aviation colour code from green to yellow in accordance with recommended International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) procedures. This alert is issued when a volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level.
The police commissioner of South Iceland has sent out units to visit Þakgil canyon and other popular travel destinations close to Mýrdalsjökull glacier, the home of the sub-glacial volcano, to warn people who might be in the area.
Read more: Around 200 earthquakes have hit the large sub-glacial volcano Katla in the last 24 hours
Scientists are concerned as the volcano’s behavior is quite unusual. The earthquakes’ points of origin are shallow and there are no signs of volcanic tremors, but the experts say the quakes might nevertheless be a sign of an impending eruption.
The experts will meet with Iceland's Civil Protection at 14 (2 pm) to assess the situation.
The colour codes
Colour codes are intended to inform the aviation sector about a volcano's status. Notifications are issued for both increasing and decreasing volcanic activity, and are accompanied by text with details (as known) about the nature of the unrest or eruption, especially in regard to ash-plume information and likely outcomes.
- GREY Volcano appears quiet but is not monitored adequately. Absence of unrest unconfirmed.
- GREEN Volcano is in typical background, non-eruptive state.
- YELLOW Volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level
- ORANGE Volcano shows heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption.
- RED Eruption is imminent or in progress – significant emission of ash into atmosphere likely.
Another quite powerful earthquake swarm hit Katla volcano at 12.03 (12.03 pm) today when several quakes larger than magnitude 3 struck at the volcano. The Iceland Met Office (IMO) has raised the aviation colour code from green to yellow in accordance with recommended International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) procedures. This alert is issued when a volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level.
The police commissioner of South Iceland has sent out units to visit Þakgil canyon and other popular travel destinations close to Mýrdalsjökull glacier, the home of the sub-glacial volcano, to warn people who might be in the area.
Read more: Around 200 earthquakes have hit the large sub-glacial volcano Katla in the last 24 hours
Scientists are concerned as the volcano’s behavior is quite unusual. The earthquakes’ points of origin are shallow and there are no signs of volcanic tremors, but the experts say the quakes might nevertheless be a sign of an impending eruption.
The experts will meet with Iceland's Civil Protection at 14 (2 pm) to assess the situation.
The colour codes
Colour codes are intended to inform the aviation sector about a volcano's status. Notifications are issued for both increasing and decreasing volcanic activity, and are accompanied by text with details (as known) about the nature of the unrest or eruption, especially in regard to ash-plume information and likely outcomes.
- GREY Volcano appears quiet but is not monitored adequately. Absence of unrest unconfirmed.
- GREEN Volcano is in typical background, non-eruptive state.
- YELLOW Volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level
- ORANGE Volcano shows heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption.
- RED Eruption is imminent or in progress – significant emission of ash into atmosphere likely.
