Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Iceland and Europe, hides five or six active volcanoes. In addition to Bárðarbunga and Öræfajökull, which have been showing signs of growing activity in recent months and years, the ice cap hides Esjufjöll and Kverkfjöll, which are relatively inactive, as well as Grímsvötn, and the connected volcano Þórðarhyrna. Grímsvötn is the single most active volcano in Iceland, having erupted more than 60 times since the 13th century.
Grímsvötn reminded us that it is still very active early morning, with a sharp earthquake swarm shortly before 6 am.
A 3.2 magnitude quake was recorded at 5:41 am with an epicenter at a depth of 1.2 km (0.75 mi) 2.2 km (1.4 mi) northeast of Grímsfjall peak, one of the peaks of the volcano's caldera. The quake was followed by a second smaller tremor. The quakes do not suggest immediate volcanic activity, but serve as a reminder that while all eyes remain fixed on the monster Katla, hidden beneath Mýrdalsjökull, or the deadly Öræfajökull and very active Bárðarbunga, any of the dozens of active volcanoes of Iceland can wake up at any time.
The main threat posed by an eruption in Grímsvötn are outburst floods which can damage or destroy roads and bridges in their way. These floods find their way out to the sandar, the glacial outwash plains south of Vatnajökull.
Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Iceland and Europe, hides five or six active volcanoes. In addition to Bárðarbunga and Öræfajökull, which have been showing signs of growing activity in recent months and years, the ice cap hides Esjufjöll and Kverkfjöll, which are relatively inactive, as well as Grímsvötn, and the connected volcano Þórðarhyrna. Grímsvötn is the single most active volcano in Iceland, having erupted more than 60 times since the 13th century.
Grímsvötn reminded us that it is still very active early morning, with a sharp earthquake swarm shortly before 6 am.
A 3.2 magnitude quake was recorded at 5:41 am with an epicenter at a depth of 1.2 km (0.75 mi) 2.2 km (1.4 mi) northeast of Grímsfjall peak, one of the peaks of the volcano's caldera. The quake was followed by a second smaller tremor. The quakes do not suggest immediate volcanic activity, but serve as a reminder that while all eyes remain fixed on the monster Katla, hidden beneath Mýrdalsjökull, or the deadly Öræfajökull and very active Bárðarbunga, any of the dozens of active volcanoes of Iceland can wake up at any time.
The main threat posed by an eruption in Grímsvötn are outburst floods which can damage or destroy roads and bridges in their way. These floods find their way out to the sandar, the glacial outwash plains south of Vatnajökull.
