Iceland Chronicles

bits and pieces from the northern island.

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Iceland Airwaves 2011
  • RIFF 2011

Volcanic Eruption at Grímsvötn

by Pu on May 21, 2011

Experts say this is not a big surprise and it was to be expected: an eruption has just started around 7 PM in Grímsvötn, located in the northwest of the Vatnajökull glacier, in southeast Iceland. The plume from the eruption has already reached 18,000ft in height.

Eruptions are common in Grímsvötn, occurring once every 10 years, and they are usually short and localized. Anyhow, in the past, volcanic events in this area have been connected to devastating eruptions located in the same fissure; during the dreadful Laki eruption in 1783 an eruption was ongoing also at Grímsvötn.

The Grímsvötn area consists of a series of sub-glacial lakes that are never completely frozen due to the volcanic activity below them. Thus, the main risk arising from eruptions in the area is a phenomenon known as jökulhlaup – glacial outburst floods. In layman terms, the water trapped under the ice in the lakes bursts out due to the eruption with extreme violence, causing a powerful and extremely dangerous outburst of water. The 1996 eruption in the area caused a peak flow of 50,000 m³/s and lasted for several days.

Stay tuned for more updates about the eruption. Meanwhile, you can check our short guide about Icelandic Volcanoes.

Be Sociable, Share!
  • Tweet

Related posts:

  • Grímsvötn Eruption Webcams
  • Grímsvötn Eruption Map
  • Grímsvötn Eruption: Heavy Ash Fall in South Iceland
  • Grímsvötn Eruption Satellite Images
  • Bárðarbunga Volcano At Risk Of Eruption?

Tagged as: eruption, Grímsvötn, Vatnajökull

Previous post: From An Outsider’s Perspective – Mini-Ciné Reykjavík

Next post: Grímsvötn Eruption Map

Subscribe RSS Facebook
  • Topics

  • Ads

  • Recent Comments

    • eivind luthen on A Farewell To Thor Vilhjálmsson
    • Acong on RIFF Day 8 – Jim Jarmusch Chats with the Audience
    • Leila on Submarino by Thomas Vinterberg
    • Leila on Submarino by Thomas Vinterberg
    • Cynthia Chapman on A Farewell To Thor Vilhjálmsson
Iceland Chronicles

Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 IcelandChronicles.com. All rights reserved.