Bárdarbunga volcano news & activity updates
Bardarbunga volcano update: Eruption continues with steady and large lava output rate
Tuesday Sep 23, 2014 07:51 AM | BY: T
Satellite image from 22 Sep, showing the 2 main lava flows from the Holuhraun eruption (image: Institute of Earth Sciences. Landsat 8, NASA & USGS)
Lava flow map as of 20 Sep (Institute of Earth Sciences)
Astonishing lava volumes:
The lava flows erupted since the beginning cover around 37 square km and comprise a total volume of 0.4-0.6 cubic kilometers. If compared to an explosive eruption (for which the VEI scale was designed) using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) scale, the eruption has already reached the category VEI 5. It has so far erupted about the same volume of magma as the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption.
The discharge rate was estimated to 250-350 cubic meters per second. For a full day (86400 seconds), this corresponds to a cube measuring approx. 300 m on its sides. It would be enough to fill a soccer field with a pile 2-3 km tall of lava!
The subsidence of the Bardarbunga caldera continues with same rate as before, approx. 50 cm each day. It has now subsided by almost 30 meters in total.
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- Information about: Bardarbunga volcano
Previous news
Sunday, Sep 21, 2014
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake under the caldera earlier today was associated with an abrupt drop of 20 cm! The following graph shows the ongoing subsidence during the past 3 days (1.5 m): ... read all
Sunday, Sep 21, 2014
The eruption continues with most activity (lava fountains and lava flow emission) now occurring from the central vent on the Holuhraun fissure. ... read all
Friday, Sep 19, 2014
No significant changes have occurred at the ongoing fissure eruption in Holuhraun. The lava effusion rate seems to remain stable, according to IMO. ... read all
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2014
The eruption at Holuhraun continues. According to the Icelandic Met Office, there are no signs of decreasing magma output. The lava flow field continues to spread. ... read all
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014
Eruptive activity at the Holuhraun fissure is decreasing and many believe that it might end within some days. This does not necessarily mean that the eruption & crisis is over, however, but could be just a pause. ... read all
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