In late October, the Icelandic volcanic system Bardarbunga was shaken by four powerful earthquakes. Tremors of magnitude 3.9, 3.2, 4.7 and 4.7 are a sign that pressure has accumulated in the volcano's magma chamber. This will eventually lead to an eruption, but it is difficult to say when it will happen or how strong it will be.
The volcano can be especially dangerous if it explodes, as it is located under the largest ice cap in Europe, the Vatnajökull glacier. Volcanoes that explode under the ice are extremely explosive and produce a lot of fine ash. When Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull began to erupt in 2010, its ash clouds damaged air traffic around the world.
Earthquakes occur when waves of energy travel through solid matter. But this does not necessarily mean that the volcano will explode immediately.
Bardarbunga reaches an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level and is located in the Vatnajökull National Park. It is one of the largest and most active volcanoes on the island. Although the volcano seems harmless due to its remote location, the eruption could have an impact outside Iceland. The last eruption of Bardarbunga, which began in August 2014 and ended in February 2015, was the largest that the country has experienced in 200 years. The ashes then spread throughout Europe.
The imminent eruption can follow different scenarios depending on the place where it starts. One third of the volcanic system is covered in ice, and eruptions under the ice can cause explosions, turning huge volumes of ice into steam. When magma touches the steam, it explodes and small particles are shot high into the atmosphere. Or, the lava from the eruption could melt the ice and cause flooding. This happened during the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull.
When will this eruption take place? Scientists say this is the million dollar question. Iceland's Meteorological Service will be monitoring the situation. According to the Catalog of Icelandic Volcanoes, the Bardarbunga system explodes once every 50 years. The last eruption began in 2014.
Bardarbunga is not the only volcano hiding under the ice. Geophysicist Paudl Einarsson of the University of Iceland reported in February 2017 that the island's 4 volcanoes are showing increased activity and are preparing to erupt. The other three are Katla, Hekla and Grimsvetn. The most dangerous is Katla.
As a state located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is very familiar with volcanoes. When Eldfell began to erupt in 1973, the country evacuated 5,000 people in one day. The eruption lasted 6 months and eventually most of the residents returned home.
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