The Icelandic Met Office warns travellers to stay clear of the edges of Skaftárjökull glacier, Tungnárjökull glacier and Síðujökull glacier during the glacial outburst flood currently taking place in Skaftá river. Mountaineers are also urged to avoid the area closest to the cauldrons as cracks and crevices can form in the ice cap without warning.
Read more: A glacial outburst flood occurred in Gígjukvísl river
According to information from the IMO, the level of Skaftá river has risen considerably, indicating that a glacial outburst flood has begun. The flood’s origin is thought to be near the western Skaftá ice cauldron and the river’s discharge is currently 150 cubic metres per second.
Floods in Skaftá originate from two ice cauldrons that formed due to persistent geothermal activity beneath Vatnajökull ice cap. The cauldrons drain around every two year, producing outburst floods of up to 1,500 cubic metres per second.
The Icelandic Met Office warns travellers to stay clear of the edges of Skaftárjökull glacier, Tungnárjökull glacier and Síðujökull glacier during the glacial outburst flood currently taking place in Skaftá river. Mountaineers are also urged to avoid the area closest to the cauldrons as cracks and crevices can form in the ice cap without warning.
Read more: A glacial outburst flood occurred in Gígjukvísl river
According to information from the IMO, the level of Skaftá river has risen considerably, indicating that a glacial outburst flood has begun. The flood’s origin is thought to be near the western Skaftá ice cauldron and the river’s discharge is currently 150 cubic metres per second.
Floods in Skaftá originate from two ice cauldrons that formed due to persistent geothermal activity beneath Vatnajökull ice cap. The cauldrons drain around every two year, producing outburst floods of up to 1,500 cubic metres per second.
