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Grímsvötn is Iceland's most frequently active volcano, probably because it is located on the center of the active NE rift zone of Iceland. Most of the volcano is hidden beneath the giant glacier of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier.
Caldera 1725 m (5,659 ft)
Iceland, 64.42°N / -17.33°W
Current status: restless (2 out of 5)
Grímsvötn webcams / live data | ReportsGrímsvötn volcano books | Tours
Grímsvötn volcano eruptions:
ca. 1310, 1332, 1341, 1354(?), ca. 1370, ca. 1390, ca. 1430, ca. 1450, ca. 1470, ca. 1490, ca. 1510, ca. 1530, 1598, 1603, 1619, 1629, 1638, 1659, 1681, 1684-85, 1706, 1716, 1725, 1753, 1768, 1774, 1783-85 (Laki fissure eruption: the largest historically known effusive eruption), 1794(?), 1796(?), 1816, 1823, 1838, 1854, 1861(?), 1867, 1873, 1883, 1887-89, 1891-92, 1897, 1902-04, 1922, 1933, 1934, 1934, 1938, 1939(?), 1941(?), 1945, 1948(?), 1954, 1972(?), 1983, 1984(?), 1996, 1998, 2004 (Nov.), 2011 (21-26 May)
Typical eruption style:Effusive, explosive magma-water/ice reaction. Produces notorious and frequent floods of melt-water bursts from the glacier (jökulhlaups).
Last earthquakes nearby
Latest satellite images  Sentinel hub | Landsat 8
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News from Grímsvötn volcano, Iceland:
Thu, 1 Oct 2020, 13:30
GPS station at Grimsvötn volcano (image: @gislio/twitter) , as an increase of seismic activity has been recorded. Read more...The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) reported that the seismic activity at the volcano has been increasing during the past month associated with increased geothermal activity. Ground deformation exceeded the level before 2011 eruption. [ less] Wed, 17 Jun 2020, 07:13
Sampling of gas released from Grimsvötn volcano in June (photo: IMO/Melissa Anne Pfeffer)
One of Iceland's most active volcanoes might be getting ready for a new eruption. Recent observations by scientists from the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) monitoring the sub-glacial volcano lead to this conclusion, IMO reported in a recent press release. Read more...In the last weeks, several measurements were done at Grimsvötn volcano. They discovered a currently very high output of SO2 gas in the southwest corner of the caldera in Grimsvötn, very close to the eruption sites of 2004 and 2011, a clearly alarming finding: " This is the first time that we measure so much SO2 at a volcano in Iceland that is not in an eruptive phase and its presence is indicative of magma at shallow level", said volcanologist Melissa Anne Pfeffer from the IMO who was among the specialist during the recent measurements. In the area where geothermal activity of the volcano can be detected at the surface, this has also notably increased. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is one of the principal volcanic gasses contained in solution in the magma at depth, but released early when magma reaches shallower depths and pressure drops. It can be regarded as one of the most common precursors when volcanoes erupt. 
Earthquakes at the volcano during 2020 so far [ less]
Thu, 27 Mar 2014, 22:42
Earthquakes under Grímsvötn volcano, probably a result of the glacial flood (Icelandic Met Office) A small jökulhlaup (glacier outburst flood) started yesterday from the subglacial lake Grímsvötn and has been discharging into the river Gígjukvísl. Read more...The event, which could have been triggered by normal fluctuations of hydrothermal activity under the ice is expected to be small. The Icelandic Met Office reports maximum discharge rates on the order of magnitude 1000 cubic meters per second, similar to rates during summer ice melt, and expects no damage to occur. The maximum of the flood is expected to be around the end of the week. A small shallow earthquake swarm, probably as a result of adjustments in the ice mass above the draining lake, has accompanied the flood today. There are no indications that the flood was caused by a volcanic eruption of Grímsvötn volcano. [ less] Tue, 31 Jan 2012, 00:01
A small glacial flood occurred at Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland on 29 January 2012. The cause of the flood was probably not volcanic, but strong rainfalls and unusually high temperatures that caused melting of large amounts of snow. The flood damaged parts of the Ring Road between Núpsvötn and Gígjukvísl in the Skeiðarársandur flood plain and and east of Gígjukvísl.
Thu, 26 May 2011, 05:21
The eruption at Grimsvötn that started off violently last Saturday 21 May seems to be ending (or at least pausing) as ash emissions have dropped to near zero this morning. Read more...What is left of the ash plumes that had affected northern Europe is now dissipating and European airspace is again fully open. [ less] Wed, 25 May 2011, 08:25
The ash plume from the Grimsvötn eruption has now reached northern Germany, forcing hundreds of flights in and out Hamburg and Berlin to be cancelled today (25 May).
Tue, 24 May 2011, 07:43
The explosive eruption of Grimsvötn volcano continues, but the height of the ash plume has significantly dropped and is estimated 5-7 km this morning 24 May. Read more...While Kevlavik airport on Iceland has resumed operations since yesterday afternoon, a lower level ash plume (at flight level 200, ca. 6 km altitude) has been drifting SE and is now partly over northern Britain, where several flights had to be canceled. (Source: London VAAC) [ less] Mon, 23 May 2011, 06:29
The ash plume from the large and still ongoing subglacial eruption of Grimsvötn volcano has caused heavy ash fall and shredded much of the country in darkness over the weekend. At the moment, most flights to and from Iceland are cancelled. Read more...At the moment, the plume height seems to have decreased from initially 17-18 km (55,000 ft) to 8-12 km (20,-35,000 ft) and is drifting and spreading W and NW, where it is interfering with transatlantic flight routes. European airspace has so far not been affected and experts think that a repeat of a major disruption of air travel as during last year's Eyafjallajökull eruption is unlikely. [ less] Sun, 22 May 2011, 04:41
A new eruption started at Grimsvötn volcano, located under the Vatnajökull icecap late on 21 May yesterday evening at around 17h15 local time. Read more...The eruption was preceded by only 15-30 minutes of intense seismic activity and started at around 19h15 pm local time. It created a large eruption plume above the glacier, reaching of 15-20 km height (50-65,000 feet), which is larger than last year's Eyafjallajökull's plume last year and makes it the largest eruption on Iceland since Hekla volcano in 1947. Iceland review reports that a group of people stayed in a hut on Grímsvötn volcano the night before the eruption, but had left on Saturday 6 hours before the eruption started. The group noticed nothing unusual, but another group that climbed Hrútafellstindar mountain in the southern part of Vatnajökull glacier said they smelled suphur on the morning of 21st May.More than 100 people climbed Öræfajökull volcano, Iceland’s highest peak, on Saturday and saw nothing unusual. [ less] Wed, 3 Nov 2010, 16:47
Signals of a possible impending eruption at Grimsvötn volcano under the icecap of Vatnajökullremain remain uncertain. Scientist measured an increase in seismic tremor at Grimsvötn, probably caused by the meltwater flow increase, but no volcanic tremor. The composition of the meltwater indicates that much of the water has been melted caused by increased geothermal heat flow. No other signs of an impending eruption are detectable (so far).
Mon, 1 Nov 2010, 23:14
Grímsvötn volcano on Iceland might be heating up to a new eruption. Recently, it has been observed that the amount of glacial meltwater from Grímsvötn emerging from under the thick ice cap of Vatnajökull covering the massive volcano has doubled. Read more...While this might well be caused by heating of the volcano due to rising magma leading to a new eruption, Icelandic volcanologist say that seismicity under the volcano is still low. There are other possible caused that could explain the increase in melt water outflow, such as geomorphical changes in the drainage system allowing an increased discharge of accumulated meltwater on top of the volcano. [ less]
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