Iceland: the volcano Bardarbunga has been active since August 2014. In February 2015, the eruption is terminated, but gas emissions remain (Image: Martin Hensch/IMO)
(Photo:
Martin Hensch/IMO)
Overview map of the volcanoes of Iceland. The Bardarbunga (red) is located beneath the Vatnajökull glacier. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is dividing Iceland, so Iceland is located partly on the North American plate and partly on the Eurasian plate. The two plates are drifting apart. (Graphic: eskp.de/CC BY)
(Map:
Wissensplattform eskp.de, Licence: CC BY 4.0)
August 16 – Icelandic scientists are aware of activities at the volcano Bardarbunga. Seismologists register a lot of smaller earthquakes indicating magmatic activity. Icelandic scientists are monitoring the seismic acticity, as well as the and gas emissions.
(Photo:
Baldur Bergsson/IMO)
August 29 – a first eruption was detected in the Holuhraun lava field, 30 km North-East of the central volcano.
(Photo:
Baldur Bergsson/IMO)
The activity is increasing in the beginning of September 2014. Lava fountains up to 113 meters high were observed.
(Photo:
Baldur Bergsson/IMO)
White vapor was rising up from the lava field. An explosive eruption or an ash cloud did not occur. Along the fissure water vapor and sulfur dioxide was emitted.
(Photo:
Baldur Bergsson/IMO)
September 4th – impressions of the lava flow. A second fissure is open.
(Photo:
Peter Hartree/Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0)
Infrared image during the night: the rupture and the direction of the lava flow can be identified easily.
(Photo:
NASA/LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response)
The lava flow reaches the river Jökulsá â Fjöllum and extends towards the Northeast over a distance of more than 17.5 km. The second, younger fissure is South of the large lava flow. (12 September 2014).
(Map:
University of Iceland/Institute of Earth Sciences)
25 km² is the area covered by lava in the September 2014. The Wannsee in Berlin covers only 23.7 km².
(Photo:
Baldur Bergsson/IMO)
Satellite image of the Holuhraun lava field and of the Vatnajökull glacier.
(Photo:
NASA)
15 September: The situation at the Bardarbunga is unchanged. The Earth trembles and sulphur dioxide is still emitted. The lava flow is accompanied by smaller fountains.
(Photo:
Martin Hensch/IMO)
January 2015: lava is still erupting and the volcano still emits huge amounts of sulphur dioxide, up to 35,000 tons a day. The lava lake covers an area of 84 km2.
(Photo:
Martin Hensch/IMO)
February 28, 2015: The activity has declined. (December 2014).
(Photo:
Martin Hensch/IMO)
