iceland Bárðarbunga and Askja - Volcanic Activity

[Rustynailer]

Here is the MODIS from 11:40 Iceland time.  blown up 150% by me, sorry MODIS...

 

Also from the ground a little later at 13:30 IT.

 

Lots of steam and gas by the looks of things, lava still flowing strong. As the river source dries up more due to freezing temperatures the lava will block it up ready for spring and a new lake... If there is not a big glacial flood to wash a channel through the lava that is. We will see.

 

14:11  IT

 

With thanks to IMO all pictures.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Rustynailer

[jonboy]

Rumbling away today

Tuesday

11.11.2014 12:25:38 64.669 -17.440 2.7 km 4.3 99.0 5.2 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Tuesday

11.11.2014 11:53:02 64.669 -17.377 5.0 km 4.6 99.0 7.8 km ENE of Bárðarbunga

Tuesday

11.11.2014 11:52:25 64.668 -17.446 3.4 km 4.0 99.0 4.9 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Tuesday

11.11.2014 10:28:26 64.662 -17.483 1.7 km 3.7 99.0 3.2 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Tuesday

11.11.2014 08:39:17 64.675 -17.466 7.8 km 3.9 99.0 4.8 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Tuesday

11.11.2014 05:11:54 64.668 -17.462 2.5 km 4.0 99.0 4.4 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Tuesday

11.11.2014 03:47:11 64.658 -17.378 1.8 km 3.7 99.0 7.4 km ENE of Bárðarbunga

Tuesday

11.11.2014 03:39:52 64.672 -17.449 7.5 km 4.6 99.0 5.1 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Tuesday

11.11.2014 01:49:50 64.661 -17.373 3.3 km 4.4 99.0 7.7 km ENE of Bárðarbunga

[jonboy]

looks to be a lot of uplift on the GPS at the moment

http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/gps-measurements/bardarbunga/caldera/

[Sussex Jules]

The GPS transmitter was getting close to being buried under snow so it was dug out and re-set, expect GPS readings to be a bit wild until it settles.

[Rustynailer]

The GPS transmitter was getting close to being buried under snow so it was dug out and re-set, expect GPS readings to be a bit wild until it settles.

Thank God/other for that, I looked at the graph simply because my mouse slipped I meant to click http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/articles/nr/2949. 

When I saw the GPS I gwarped and stood silently for a moment worrying...

[john pike]

Eruption Emitting up to 60,000 Tons of SO2 Per Day By Zoë Robert November 11, 2014 16:15 Updated: November 11, 2014 16:30

The eruption in Holuhraun. Photo: Geir Ólafsson.

Between 2,000 and 3,000 truckloads of sulfur dioxide (SO2) are being emitted daily from the eruption in Holuhraun in the northeastern highlands, according to Jónas Elíasson, seismic engineer at the University of Iceland.

Jónas has been monitoring the gases from the eruption, the information which is used to prepare gas dispersion forecasts at Belgingur. He told RÚV this morning that around 450 kg of SO2 are being emitted each second, or 40,000 to 60,000 tons per day. This is the equivalent of 2,000 to 3,000 truckloads. 

Jónas said that calm winter weather could mean that the pollution accumulates in a huge cloud, 30 to 60 km (18-37 miles) in diameter. When the wind starts to blow again, the gases could drift into populated areas. “This is one of the things we need to look at and people need to keep in mind that this is a possibility. I’m not saying that it is likely, fortunately it is rather unlikely with this weather we have here which is wet and cold at this time of year.

 

http://icelandreview.com/news/2014/11/11/eruption-emitting-60000-tons-so2-day

Acid Snow and Dead Mice from Eruption Pollution By Zoë Robert November 11, 2014 17:10 Updated: November 11, 2014 17:15

Haze from the pollution in the East Fjords in September. Photo: Zoë Robert.

Acid snow due to toxic gases including SO2 emitted from the eruption in Holuhraun in the northeastern highlands has fallen near the eruption site.

Sigurðyour Reynir Gíslason, geochemist at the University of Iceland, told Morgunblaðið yesterday that the pH level of snow in the area measured pH 3.2 whereas the normal pH level of precipitation is 5.6. The pH level of the snow is 100 times that under normal conditions. 

Precipitation in places as far from the eruption as Hornafjörðyour, Southeast Iceland, have been found to have a higher pH level.

According to Sigurðyour, the water from the snow once it melts could be very acidic.

Meanwhile, farmers in the Höfn area, Southeast Iceland, have found a large number of dead mice which appear to have died suddenly, ruv.is reports. It is assumed that they died due to high levels of pollution from the eruption. SO2 in the area measured 21,000 mµ/m3 in late October, a record in inhabited areas since the eruption began two months ago. 

The Directorate of Health advises that at levels higher than 2,000 mµ/m3 people should stay indoors with the windows closed, the air conditioning off and the heaters on.

According to the Southeast Iceland Nature Center, the likely explanation is that the mice died from the pollution or something they ate but it is too late to perform an autopsy.

http://icelandreview.com/news/2014/11/11/acid-snow-and-dead-mice-eruption-pollution

 

[john pike]

 

http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/earthquakes/vatnajokull/#view=table

 

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=408177

 

more quakes incoming

[john pike]

Tuesday

11.11.2014 19:39:47 64.679 -17.516 3.2 km 4.4 99.0 4.4 km N of Bárðarbunga

[john pike]

 

Over 1 km³ of lava erupted at Holuhraun

Fyrst birt: 11.11.2014 12:30, Síðast uppfært: 11.11.2014 13:19

Flokkar: Volcano

The volume of lava in Holuhraun is now thought to exeed 1 cubic kilometer (1000 million cubic meters). (Picture: Omar Ragnars

The Holuhraun lavafield has now reached a size of 70 square kilometers and its volume is thought to have exceeded 1 cubic kilometer, or one billion cubic meters. This lava eruption is thus the second largest in Iceland since the Laki eruption in 1783 - 1784.

"We may be in for the long haul, regarding this eruption," says geophysicist Pall Einarsson, professor at the University of Iceland's Institute of Earth Sciences. "During the last decades, we have experienced eruptions that have been forceful at the start, and rather short lived, such as the Hekla and Grimsvotn eruptions," says Einarsson. "But we can also talk about the Heimaey eruption in 1973, which lasted from January until July that year, and the Krafla eruptions, which lasted intermittently for 15 years. So a long-lasting event in Holuhraun is not a remote possibility; the eruption is now in a well established phase and it's difficult to see any signs of changes."

Bardarbunga still shaking

Seismic activity in the Bardarbunga caldera, south of Holuhraun, still continues, with over 60 earthquakes detected today and yesterday. Limited activity has been detected in the dyke intrusion which is thought to feed the Holuhraun eruption. „As long as there is an eruption there, we see lower pressure beneath Bardarbunga,“ says Einarsson. „Should the magma in the instrusion freeze, we will have to see what happens in the caldera.“

Started small - getting big

With constant activity in the main crater in the lavafield, the Holuhraun lavafield has been growing steadily towards the north and east of the source; reaching 70 square kilometres in recent days. The volume is also impressive; with over 1 cubic kilometer of lava erupted, Holuhraun is now the second largest effusive eruption in Iceland since the 18th century. Only the Laki eruption in 1783 - 1784 is bigger, with 15 cubic kilometers of erupted lava. 

"The Holuhraun eruption is accordingly the second biggest effusive eruption when it comes to the SO2 pollution," says Einarsson. That pollution is persistent in Iceland, annoying inhabitants in every part of the country, depending on the weather. 40 - 60.000 tonnes of SO2 are released into the air every day in Holuhraun, and pollution levels have sometimes reached dangerous levels, especially in eastern Iceland.

 

http://www.ruv.is/frett/over-1-km%C2%B3-of-lava-erupted-at-holuhraun

[john pike]

 

Wednesday
12.11.2014 15:05:16 64.662 -17.459 2.0 km 4.1 99.0 4.0 km NE of Bárðarbunga

12.11.2014 12:38:46 64.671 -17.470 3.1 km 4.5 99.0 4.3 km NE of Bárðarbunga Wednesday
12.11.2014 11:49:21 64.669 -17.401 8.6 km 4.4 99.0 6.8 km ENE of Bárðarbunga Wednesday
12.11.2014 06:06:15 64.668 -17.455 0.9 km 4.0 99.0 4.6 km NE of Bárðarbunga Wednesday
12.11.2014 06:01:15 64.682 -17.464 6.5 km 4.3 99.0 5.5 km NNE of Bárðarbunga Wednesday
12.11.2014 03:52:26 64.681 -17.479 1.9 km 3.9 99.0 5.1 km NNE of Bárðarbunga Wednesday
12.11.2014 02:12:57 64.704 -17.484 1.5 km 3.9 99.0 7.4 km NNE of Bárðarbunga Wednesday
12.11.2014 01:18:36 64.614 -17.430 2.8 km 4.0 99.0 5.5 km ESE of Bárðarbunga

http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/earthquakes/vatnajokull/#view=table

 

list of plus 3 today quakes

 

 

all in the usual spot and with variable depths

Edited November 12, 2014 by john pike

[Allseasons-Si]

Evening Bardarbararians

 

not been on for a couple of days,busy busy and all

 

a 4+ EQ or two incoming

 

21:41:55 58 2561

 

http://platformsthatwork.com/bardies/quakesonaplane.php

 

on the up @ von,infact,quiet a few show a big uptick

 

http://hraun.vedur.is/ja/oroi/allarsort.html

 

 

Kre working again

 

 

Hekla strains,a few there

 

 

no view on the cams for the last few days,has someone turned them off lol

 

and finally the gps,well all level there at the mo

 

 

12 November 2014 12:00 - from the Scientific Advisory Board

The subsidence of the Bárðarbunga caldera continues with similar rate as last few weeks. Yesterday the GPS station was lifted out of the snow, which is now falling on the glacier. The sharp rise seen in the graph on the web, is the result of this operation.

Edited November 12, 2014 by Allseasons-si

[Rustynailer]

Some nice Pictures from NASA http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/84000/84698/holuhraun_oli_2014313_lrg.jpg

Also

http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/84000/84698/holuhraun_oli_2014313_swir_lrg.jpg

 

Both the above from this page http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=84698&src=twitter-nh

 

 

Thanks NASA.

 

This evenings graph looks active, business as usual   Latest in all wavelengths 

 

This video is very nice I think http://vimeo.com/111344670  Camera melting stuff that, not to mention singed helicopters.... Definitely in my top 5 of this eruption so far

 

Rather nice but short  EJ 2010 just to compare...  http://vimeo.com/11511087  The fissure at http://vimeo.com/25115803   Fimmvorduhals erupted first, the famous tourist eruption, I remember it as the eruption that started the Internets Volcano interest/usefulness for many people.

 

​My thoughts are of Holrahun fissure ending in the next few days maybe couple weeks, then Bada may or may not erupt...If the volcano erupts I am still thinking a flank eruption NE quadrant, at least as big as Grims 2011. I don't think this is all from this episode, the rifting continues with fresh cracks 40 and 80 cm wide spotted by scientists yesterday South of the erupting fissure.

It is anybody's guess weather Bada will erupt or a new fissure vent line opens or both.

 

Very interesting and very dangerous.

Edited November 12, 2014 by Rustynailer

[jonboy]

The overnight quakes over 3 some of which are very shallow

Thursday

13.11.2014 08:30:12 64.667 -17.388 3.0 km 4.5 99.0 7.2 km ENE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday

13.11.2014 08:29:38 64.681 -17.405 1.2 km 3.8 99.0 7.4 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday

13.11.2014 08:26:48 64.673 -17.451 7.6 km 4.2 99.0 5.1 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday

13.11.2014 07:42:56 64.622 -17.361 1.1 km 3.8 99.0 8.2 km ESE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday

13.11.2014 04:42:06 64.673 -17.458 7.4 km 3.8 99.0 4.9 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday

13.11.2014 01:39:36 64.671 -17.456 3.0 km 4.0 99.0 4.8 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday

13.11.2014 01:22:55 64.679 -17.386 3.3 km 3.9 99.0 8.0 km ENE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday

13.11.2014 01:18:28 64.664 -17.511 0.1 km 4.7 99.0 2.7 km NNE of Bárðarbunga

[Azores Hi]

Hi there.

 Great thread, I'm glued daily to the development of this volcano and I thank all those who have contributed so far.

Quick question, does anyone have a link to charts which show the SO2 anomoly in the the northern hemisphere following this eruption?

Ta

[Rustynailer]

Hi there.

 Great thread, I'm glued daily to the development of this volcano and I thank all those who have contributed so far.

Quick question, does anyone have a link to charts which show the SO2 anomoly in the the northern hemisphere following this eruption?

Ta

I think this is the one http://sacs.aeronomie.be/  also  http://sampo.fmi.fi/

 

Look what it was like on 1 September 

 

Today 1 hour ago from IMO sorry no link   sounding forecast for the same time slot  

 

Changing the subject slightly here are the over mag 3 EQ's for the past three days listed on the Vala map  

 

Business as usual today all wavelengths from the drums separated for ease of viewing  

Edited November 13, 2014 by Rustynailer

[jonboy]

These two are E and ESE

 

 

Thursday
13.11.2014 11:31:05 64.619 -17.341 10.8 km 4.4 99.0 9.2 km ESE of Bárðarbunga Thursday
13.11.2014 11:30:37 64.627 -17.361 2.9 km 3.9 99.0 8.1 km E of Bárðarbunga

[Rustynailer]

Video from IMO staff member, very revealing, sets the mind straight regarding triple junction.  From this guy....  https://www.youtube.com/user/mummijons

[Allseasons-Si]

Afternoon Barda peep's

 

over a hundred EQ's so far today,my she is busy

 

+ more incoming

 

http://platformsthatwork.com/bardies/quakesonaplane.php

 

latest 3+ EQ's today from lunch time

 

Thursday
13.11.2014 15:20:02 64.685 -17.456 8.0 km 3.1 99.0 6.0 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday
13.11.2014 15:18:19 64.674 -17.442 9.1 km 4.0 99.0 5.5 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday
13.11.2014 15:16:54 64.669 -17.390 0.5 km 3.1 99.0 7.3 km ENE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday
13.11.2014 12:33:08 64.661 -17.526 8.7 km 4.0 99.0 2.3 km N of Bárðarbunga

Thursday
13.11.2014 12:13:00 64.667 -17.475 6.8 km 3.0 99.0 3.9 km NE of Bárðarbunga

Thursday
13.11.2014 12:08:46 64.669 -17.426 8.0 km 3.1 99.0 5.8 km ENE of Bárðarbunga

 

unchecked ones(recent)

 

Thursday
13.11.2014 16:50:22 64.670 -17.320 1.1 km 3.8 50.5 10.4 km ENE of Bárðarbunga

 

 

IMO's latest news

 

13 November 2014 - pH of rain water

Large quantities of gases are emitted to the atmosphere associated with the Holuhraun eruption. Among the gases are SO₂ that can convert to sulfuric acid causing acid rain.

Since 19th September 2014, rainwater samples have been collected and analysed at weekly bases at 18 locations across all the country. The sampling and analysis have been carried out by Veðurstofan and Háskóli Ãslands.

The pH of unpolluted rainwater in Iceland is ~5.6. Rainwater with lower pH is referred to as acid rain and rainwater with higher pH may have interacted with dust in the air and the rain collectors.

The pH of rainwater in Iceland, after the start of the Holuhraun eruption, is  ranging from pH 3.2 to 7.5 with an average value of pH 5.8. About 40% of the rain is defined as acid rain whereas 60% can be regarded as unpolluted rain. Less than 1% of the acid rain is however very acid with pH below 4. Stations at Borgir, Reykjahlíð, Ãrafoss, Hitardalur and Hjarðarland, are among those showing acid rain periodically. It is important to consider that several factors affect the pH of rainwater in addition to the volcanic eruption, the main factors being seaspray, geothermal activity, evaporation and fine rock dust.

The analysis will continue as soon as new samples will be available and the updates will be published on IMO's web-site.

 

13 November 2014 10:00 - from geoscientist on duty

Seismic activity around Bárðarbunga and in the dyke intrusion during the last 24 hours has been similar to recent days. The strongest earthquakes around the Bárðarbunga caldera since yesterday morning 10:00 were M4.7 at 01:18 last night and M4.5 at 12:38 yesterday, both on the northern caldera rim. 12 additional events were larger than M3 and alltogether around 90 events were detected in this region. Activity in the dyke intrusion remains at low levels. No earthquake exceeded M1.0 and alltogether less than 10 events were detected, all located between the eruption site in Holuhraun and the northern part of Dyngjujökull.

Stable eruption activity is in Holuhraun. Although the eruption can not be seen on any webcams since a few days due to weather conditions, activity is still detected on infrasound arrays and scientists in the field did not report any changes.

 

http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/articles/nr/2947

 

latest tweets here

 

https://twitter.com/hashtag/bardarbunga -some nice pics there.

Edited November 13, 2014 by Allseasons-si

[SteveB]

A little flurry of quakes over 3 with one @ 4.0 & 0.0km

 

What's that all about?

 

http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/earthquakes/vatnajokull/#view=table

Edited November 13, 2014 by SteveB

[Rustynailer]

A little flurry of quakes over 3 with one @ 4.0 & 0.0km

 

What's that all about?

 

http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/earthquakes/vatnajokull/#view=table

Although not the mag 5's there are more green stars on that map than I have ever seen.

The noise of the quakes is breaking rock, the magma is not having an easy journey to the fissure, that's the noise.

 

Another as we speak...  Only a 3 or 4 , if it was any bigger it would show very well on this  http://hraun.vedur.is/ja/strain/1sec/index.html

[Rustynailer]

There has just been a mag 5+ quake the first for a while .....

The vala 

I prefer this though when my eyes are tired

 

Confirmed on the strain at Hekla  

[The PIT]

One or two large quakes overnight but just below five.

GPS charts look funny to me. One shows a clear slowing of subsidence while the other long term one doesn't. Overall no real change and probably stay the same for a while.

[Midlands Ice Age]

Morning Barbadarians

After three quakes just below m4 in a row. One of M4 has just been reported on twitter.

The good news is that the visibility has finally cleared and all the webcams have a clear view.

It is amazing how the rift has grown into a volcano peak over the last 2 weeks.

Midland Ice Age

[karyo]

M5.4!!!  

[jonboy]

Those since about midnight

 

The 5.4 is to the SE rather than NE

 

 

Friday
14.11.2014 11:25:46 64.612 -17.433 2.6 km 5.4 99.0 5.5 km SE of Bárðarbunga Friday
14.11.2014 10:42:10 64.670 -17.420 1.1 km 3.5 50.5 6.1 km ENE of Bárðarbunga Friday
14.11.2014 08:06:49 64.673 -17.465 3.8 km 4.2 99.0 4.7 km NE of Bárðarbunga Friday
14.11.2014 07:55:02 64.677 -17.422 8.8 km 3.2 99.0 6.5 km NE of Bárðarbunga Friday
14.11.2014 05:44:49 64.674 -17.398 8.5 km 3.4 99.0 7.2 km ENE of Bárðarbunga Friday
14.11.2014 05:43:48 64.682 -17.431 9.6 km 3.2 99.0 6.5 km NE of Bárðarbunga Friday
14.11.2014 05:19:32 64.682 -17.484 9.0 km 3.2 99.0 5.1 km NNE of Bárðarbunga Friday
14.11.2014 03:06:35 64.677 -17.484 7.2 km 3.0 99.0 4.6 km NNE of Bárðarbunga Friday
14.11.2014 01:23:32 64.680 -17.480 8.7 km 3.4 99.0 4.9 km NNE of Bárðarbunga Thursday
13.11.2014 23:16:52 64.671 -17.478 8.3 km 3.9 99.0 4.1 km NE of Bárðarbunga Thursday
13.11.2014 23:13:09 64.671 -17.475 7.2 km 3.9 99.0 4.2 km NE of Bárðarbunga Thursday
13.11.2014 23:08:43 64.675 -17.439 3.7 km 4.8 99.0 5.8 km NE of Bárðarbunga