Bardarbunga volcano update: Eruption continues with steady and large lava output rate
Tue, 23 Sep 2014, 07:51
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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Previous news
Sun, 21 Sep 2014, 17:09
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
Sun, 21 Sep 2014, 10:32
The eruption continues with most activity (lava fountains and lava flow emission) now occurring from the central vent on the Holuhraun fissure. ... Read all
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