Next article >> << Previous article Environmental pressure from the 2014–15 eruption of Bárðarbunga volcano, Iceland

Abstract

The effusive six months long 2014-2015 Bárðarbunga eruption (31 August-27 February) was the largest in Iceland for more than 200 years, producing 1.6 ± 0.3 km 3 of lava. The total SO 2 emission was 11 ± 5 Mt, more than the amount emitted from Europe in 2011. The ground level concentration of SO 2 exceeded the 350 µg m −3 hourly average health limit over much of Iceland for days to weeks. Anomalously high SO 2 concentrations were also measured at several locations in Europe in September. The lowest pH of fresh snowmelt at the eruption site was 3.3, and 3.2 in precipitation 105 km away from the source. Elevated dissolved H 2 SO 4 , HCl, HF, and metal concentrations were measured in snow and precipitation. Environmental pressures from the eruption and impacts on populated areas were reduced by its remoteness, timing, and the weather. The anticipated primary environmental pressure is on the surface waters, soils, and vegetation of Iceland.

New Insights for Detecting and Deriving Thermal Properties of Lava Flow Using Infrared Satellite during 2014–2015 Effusive Eruption at Holuhraun, Iceland

“…The eruption began on a 1.8 km long fissure feeding up to 500 m wide, incandescent sheets of slabby pahoehoe [1,2]. Apart from fire fountaining in the first few weeks, in 15 days, the volcanic activity had formed an open channels lava flow that advanced 17-18 km towards NNE and subsequently the lava morphology changed to rubbly and aa types [1,7]. The second phase had a discharge ranging from 50 to 100 m 3 /s [1,6].…”

“…2017, 9, 151 3 of 24 km towards NNE and subsequently the lava morphology changed to rubbly and aa types [1,7]. The second phase had a discharge ranging from 50 to 100 m 3 /s [1,6].…”

Tremor-rich shallow dyke formation followed by silent magma flow at Bárðarbunga in Iceland

“…In this scenario seismicity tells us about magma ow pathways at depth, whilst the transition to tremor indicates breakthrough to the uppermost crust. At Bárdarbunga once upper crustal dykes were formed they no longer produced tremor and 1.6±0.3 km 3 of magma 12 owed silently through the uppermost crust to eruption. As the Bárdarbunga eruption was an exceptionally well instrumented type-example of crustal growth with weak if any tremor along the magma feeding dyke, our observations help advance the interpretation of pre-eruptive tremor signals in rifting environments in general.…”

“…On August 29 th , 2014 a 4 hour long subaerial eruption started near the tip of the dyke 5 km north of the glacier rim. It stopped only to restart on the same ssure on August 31 st , 2014 continuing until February 27 th , 2015 11 and producing 1.6±0.3 km 3 of lava 12 . In addition, multiple subglacial eruptions were suspected between August 23 rd and September 5 th 13;14 .…”

Postglacial eruptive history of the Askja region, North Iceland

“…For example, the 2014-2015 lava at Holuhraun has an average thickness of ∼19 m (e.g. Gíslason et al 2015), but is over 40 m thick near the vents and 5-10 m thick at its edges. Similarly the Thorvaldshraun lava is at least 5-6 m thick at its edges, and is expected to be at least 10 m thick at the eruptive fissure (Hartley and Thordarson 2012).…”