Volcano erupts under Europe's largest glacier
Bárdabunga, a volcano which lies buried under Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, began erupting this morning, causing huge depressions to appear in the hundreds metres thick ice above the crater.
Civil defence planners are anxious lest the sheer amount of water which such a sub-glacial eruption produces should start escaping into populated districts near the glacier.
Scientists had warned that an eruption was possible after earthquakes of up to force five on the Richter scale hit the area around the volcano on Sunday.
Authorities had also issued a statement warning travellers and pilots to avoid the ground and airspace around the volcano.
Daily News from Iceland October 1, 1996.
Sub-glacial eruption sparks flood fears
There is growing concern that the massive volcanic eruption under Vatnajökull glacier, the biggest in Europe, could trigger large scale flooding in southern Iceland.
What alarms scientists is that Grímsvötn, a huge basin under the glacier, is filling with water caused by the volcano. Should the eruption continue the basin will overflow, lift the glacier and release millions of square kilometers of glacial water into Skeidará river and the surrounding countryside of south Iceland.
Iceland's largest bridge and the country's vital crucial ringroad run through the area threatened by floods.
By yesterday evening the eruption had formed two giant saucer-like depressions on the surface of the northeastern face of the glacier. According to geophysicist Magnús Tumi Gudmundsson, each depression was 2km in diameter and about 100m deep.
Ash and smoke from the eruption was seen penetrating the 600m plus thick layer of ice above the volcano's crater at 4.47 this morning. The emission of volcanic material continues unabated and there are reports of ash falling as far away as Akureyri, north Iceland.
Daily News from Iceland October 2, 1996.
Volcanic eruption pierces glacier; emergency services on full alert
Immense clouds of volcanic steam, ash and smoke continue to bellow from a 6 km long rift which opened in Vatnajökull glacier in south Iceland early yesterday morning.
Mushroom-like columns of volcanic material were seen soaring as high as 5 km above the northeast corner of the glacier, the largest in Europe.
A series of explosions also sent clouds of steam soaring 500 metres into the sky.
The eruption, which has forced its way through a section of 450 metre thick glacial ice, has spewed a cloud of ash which meteorologists forecast will drift over much of east Iceland today.
Scientists warned earlier this week that a series of sub-glacial earthquakes recorded over the weekend could be the prelude to a major eruption. Prime Minister Davíd Oddsson yesterday called an emergency meeting with his Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Communications and the heads of Iceland's Civil Defence, Coast Guard and Meteorological Office.
Oddsson gave emergency services' chiefs the go-ahead to take whatever action necessary to protect infrastructure installations threatened by the eruption, provided no lives were put at risk.
Flood fears as eruption melts glacier
Glacial waters produced by the Vatnajökull eruption pose a serious flood threat to a huge swath of land in south Iceland.
The heat of the sub-glacial eruption is melting an immense volume of ice which then runs south into Grímsvötn, a large lake buried under the glacier. When the lake is full the water actually lifts the glacier and overflows into the surrounding countryside, usually into the sandy flatlands of Skeidarársandur on Iceland's south coast.
Scientists estimate that water has been flowing into Grímsvötn at a rate of 5,000 cubic metres per second, and that a major flood is imminent. It has also been forecast that the expected flood could reach a highwater rate of 20,000 cubic metres per second.
A stretch of Iceland's main ringroad crosses Skeidarársandur and will most likely be impassable should Grímsvötn flood. Iceland's largest bridge is also in Skeidarársandur.
Daily News from Iceland October 3, 1996.
Volcanic eruption continues; massive flooding imminent
The powerful volcanic eruption under Vatnajökull glacier continues unabated and has filled a vast sub-glacial lake with meltwater which can flood at any moment.
A 6 kilometre high column of smoke, ash and volcanic detritus is still spewing from a rift burned through the glacier's 450 metre thick layers of ice. The fissure in the glacier's surface is growing steadily and was late last night estimated to be 8 km long.
Scientists estimate that the eruption yesterday alone melted 1 cubic km of glacial ice, most of which ran into the Grímsvötn caldera under the glacier. Experts say an overspill of glacial water from Grímsvötn is imminent and have predicted massive flooding of Skeidarársandur in the south of the country.
Authorities yesterday began removing signs and crash barriers from roads in the area in an effort to minimise damage should the flooding begin. Officials say the forecasted flooding could leave taxpayers with a more than US$20 million repair bill for damaged roads and phone and electricity lines.
There has as yet been no disturbance to the busy air-lanes above Iceland as a result of ash emitted from the volcano.
Jetliners on trans-Atlantic flights passing close to Iceland usually fly at a height of 30-37,000 feet, while only minute amounts of ash have risen to more than 20,000 feet.
Daily News from Iceland October 4, 1996.
Hesitant floodwaters leave world's media high and dry
The continuing volcanic eruption under Vatnajökull glacier has attracted dozens of foreign reporters to Iceland, but some are beginning to tire of waiting for the promised flood of glacial meltwater.
A small army of overseas writers, photographers and technicians descended on Iceland when news of the eruption broke, and many decided to stay when scientists said massive flooding of the south of the country was imminent.
The flood, however, appears to heave been put on ice, forcing some journalists to return home today. Most foreign reporters have decided to stay for a while longer.
A stunning aerial photograph of the glacier spewing ash and smoke dominated a recent front page of the British broadsheet
The Independent. Coverage of Iceland in general and the eruption in particular even made it into a leader in The Times.
TV crews were dispatched to Iceland from Germany's ARD and ZDF, NBC of the U.S. sent a team, as did Reuters and the BBC.
Daily News from Iceland October 9, 1996.
Still waiting
As of today, October 9, no floods have occurred. Weather has hindered direct observations of the eruption, but satillite images indicate that the eruption may be moving further to the north. This means that water may start flowing north, but the water level at Grimsvotn is though that high that flooding seem unavoidable.
Throstur Thorsteinsson, October 9, 1996.
New 3.5 km long rift in volcanic glacier
A newly formed 3.5 km long rift has been torn into the surface of the volcano wracked Vatnajökull glacier in south central Iceland. Scientists only discovered the gorge yesterday after the weather cleared to allow the first observation flights over the icecap in almost a week.
The cleft lies just to the south of the main crater which was formed at the beginning of the month by a volcanic eruption forcing its way through 450 metres of glacial ice.
Scientists estimate that the southern end of the newly formed ravine is 200 metres wide, but that the cleft is much wider at its northern end nearest the crater.
The eruption continued unabated yesterday, belching enormous towers of black volcanic ash, smoke, steam and detritus high above the cracked surface of the glacier.
At one stage yesterday there were massive explosions of ash from the crater at regular 10-15 milute intervals.
Meanwhile the Grímsvötn subglacial basin, a huge depression under the icecap, continues to fill with meltwater. There has, as yet, been no sign of the large scale flooding of the surrounding countryside warned of by scientists.
Daily News from Iceland October 10, 1996.
Eruption dying down
The Vatnajökull eruption appears to be dying down after more than a week of intense activity that has enthralled a world wide audience. Scientists and journalists who flew over the site of one of Iceland's largest eruptions of the century yesterday reported that the clouds of ash that had at one time billowed 20,000 feet into the sky were mixing with a fog that was lying over the glacier. Scientists using seismic measuring equipment say they are detecting little if any movement or activity.
A radio journalist flying over the site yesterday witnessed a huge ash explosion within the crater which seemed to then bring a calm to the proceedings. It was then possible he said to get a good view of the crater and the immense caldera that has formed deep within the glacier. The battle between fire and ice could quite clearly be seen with a great deal of water surrounding the new summit of the ice-submerged volcano. For hundreds of metres, many wide and deep cracks and crevices score the immediate vicinity, reminding of the intense heat that continues to have an effect over a wide area.
Foreign media reporting of eruption causing many to be anxious
The Vatnajökull eruption is causing widespread concern among those who are or were planning on visiting Iceland.
Overdramatical reporting of the events by foreign news teams that have failed to put the eruption in context with the size of the country, has lead many to make anxious enquiries. One person asked if Icelanders were all now wearing gas masks to protect against poisonous gasses while others have asked whether Keflavík International Airport remains open. Bookings for trans-Atlantic flights are being effected with many from Scandinavia indicating that they do not want to make a stopover in Iceland.
The Icelandic Tourist Board has sent statements to travel agencies and tour operators around the world explaining the volcanic activity and pointing out that it is occurring in places far away from human settlement.
Daily News from Iceland October 14, 1996.
Vatnajökull eruption reveals new mountain
National daily Morgunbladid today dedicates its front page to the Vatnajökull eruption publishing a half-page photograph clearly showing a huge gorge and steamy aftermath of the violent meltdown resulting from almost two-weeks of intense volcanic activity.
Scientists flying in clear, sunny weather over the site of what is believed to be among Iceland's largest eruptions of this century, report that the eruption has created a new mountain whos peak can clearly be seen rising u through the glacier. The new mountain continues to melt the glacier ice as clouds of steam rise from its summit.
Melt water flows from the eruption area through a 3km long ice canyon before running submerged in the ice into the Grímsvötn basin, the surface height of which has risen to 1504m, according to measurements taken by the Nordic Volcanological Institute. Scientists meanwhile, at the University of Iceland estimate that a level of 1505-1510m is enough water to lift the ice block.
At this point, experts believe there is either a pause in the volcanic activity or that it has ceased altogether and are now anxious to see when the anticipated flood of water will ensue.
Daily News from Iceland October 16, 1996.
Eruption site cooling as first snow falls on mountain
Snow covered for the first time the new mountain within the crater formed by the Vatnajökull eruption.
Scientists predict that the glacier will not take long to consume the mountain and indeed the ice canyon itself, possibly as early as the end of the forthcoming winter. The canyon is now estimated to measure around 400m wide and between 1-2km in length. At one point during its period of high activity the canyon was measured at around 3km in length.
The eruption has all but subsided with the canyon having cooled considerably over the past couple of days. As a consequence, the flow of water streaming into Lake Grímsvötn has decreased with the water level in the caldera lake now standing at 1,505m.
Daily News from Iceland October 18, 1996.
Travel ban to Vatnajökull lifted
The Iceland Civil Defence has announced the lifting of the ban preventing unauthorised personel from travelling to the site of the Vatnajökull eruption.
The decision was made in the wake of scientist's confirming that the eruption had now ceased.
Daily News from Iceland October 21, 1996.
Prime Minister surveys the damage first hand
5pm:
"In just four hours this has knocked us back 20-30 years in terms of our road building endeavours," said Prime Minister Davíd Oddsson after flyin over south Iceland witnessing first hand the damage resulting from the immense flood water of the Vatnajökull glacial eruption.
Scientists estimate the rate of water flooding the plains of the south to be gushing at a phenomenal 20,000 m3 per second and growing. Nobody has so far been able to say when the unstoppable wave of water will subside.
Large stretches of the ring road have been washed away with three bridges in very real danger of being destroyed, including one of the country's largest and most important. One bridge, that over the river Gýgja, has already been carried away by the tidal like flow of the glacial melt-water onslaught, costing the nation an estimated ISK300 million, around US$4.6 million, to replace.
Unstoppable giant flood sweeping away everything in its path
1 pm:
A tidal wave of black melt water and huge chunks of ice from last month's Vatnajökull eruption is hurtling southwards under and over Europe's largest glacier sweeping aside everything in its path.
The giant flood, believed to be the greatest ever witnessed in Iceland, burst from the Lake Grimsvötn caldera between 8-9am today. Scientist estimate that an initial 3km3 water came crashing under the glacier before washing over the sandy plains of the south lands. Such is the force of the flood that it blasted a 2km long crevice 100m from the edge of the glacier spewing the murky water forth in waves over the frozen surface.
A bridge over the river Gýgja has succumbed to the flood along with a fibre optic telecommunications cable.
The ring road linking the south and east of the country has been swept away in several places, most dramatically either side of the Skeidarár bridge, as engineers await the further destruction of bridges, roadway and power lines that is sure to follow in its wake.
Meanwhile, vessels fishing in the waters off the south coast have been warned to haul in their gear as there is a danger of flood waves of silt sweeping over the ocean bed.
A detection of disturbance around 10:30pm yesterday picked up by measuring equipment at Grímsfjall, near the site of the eruption, sparked an initial warning although scientists were not sure whether what they were witnessing was a new sub-glacial eruption or that the colossal amount of melt-water was bursting through the ice dam of the Grímsvötn caldera. By early morning the measurement of disturbances grew ten-fold signalling that the wait for the flood was over.
Within two hours, the volume of water had increased a hundred-fold. At 1pm the water is still said to be rising.
The calm before the flood
The ethereal peace and quiet yesterday in the huge Vatnajökull glacier canyon of ice was shattered by the whirling, chopping sound of two helicopters swooping in for a landing.
Shortly after 3:30pm Morgunbladid photographer Ragnar "RAX" Axelsson and popular television newsman Ómar Ragnarsson became the first people to step foot into the giant canyon formed by last month's sub-glacial venting, Iceland's fourth greatest eruption of the century.
As fuel in the helicopters was low their stay, together with geologist Ari Trausti Gudmundsson and film maker Sigmundur Arngrímsson, was confined to 8-9 minutes. They were however, able to take some memorable pictures, collect a number of samplesand plant an Icelandic flag with their names inscribed before taking off and heading back to the capital of Reykjavík.
Daily News from Iceland November 5, 1996.
After the flood
Iceland is today reckoning the damage left in the wake of yesterday's all-consuming flood of melt-water from the Vatnajökull glacier eruption.
The unstoppable onslaught of coal black water and huge chunks of ice burst from the Grímsvötn caldera at 8am.
Scientists estimate that an initial 3km3 of water came crashing from under the Vatnajökull glacier, Europe's largest, leading to a giant flood wave measuring 4-5m high washing over the sandy plains of Skeidarársandur in south Iceland. Such was the force of the flood that it blasted a 2km long crevice 100m from the edge of the glacier spewing the murky water forth in waves over the frozen surface.
The flood reached its high mark fourteen hours later, gushing and sweeping aside everything in its path at a phenomenal rate of 45,000m3 per second. Twenty-four hours later the flood water still flows although it has subsided considerably. Scientists expect it to halt later today.
Although occurring in a sparsely populated area damage to communications facilities that link west, south, and east Iceland is reported to be tremendous. At least 7km of the all-important ring road was swept away while Iceland's largest bridge, Skeidarárbrú, is damaged but still standing. The bridge over the river Gýgja however, was not so fortunate and became an early victim, succumbing
to and being swept away by the tidal wave like flood.
Initial estimates put the cost of the damage to the Icelandic nation in the region of US$38.5 million.
Daily News from Iceland, Nov 6, 1996.
The story of the Vatnajökull eruption
Sept. 29: Forceful tremours begin in the northern part of Bárdarbunga on Vatnajökull glacier, the second highest point in Iceland.
Sept. 30: Eruption begins under the Vatnajökull glacier.
Oct. 2: Eruption bursts up through the surface of the glacier.
Until Oct. 11: Eruption continuing at a steady rate.
Around the middle of Oct: Volcanic activity decreases.
First five days of eruption: Water table in the Lake Grímsvötn caldera rises 90m.
Oct. 15: Water table in Grímsvötn rises to a level of 1,504m.
Oct.28: Water table in Grímsvötn measures 1,509m.
Nov. 4: (Monday 21:30): Scientists detect activity picked up by measuring equipment located at Grímsfjall, near the site of the eruption. They were uncertain whether it signalled a new sub-glacial eruption or that a colossal amount of melt-water was bursting through the ice-dam of the Grímsvötn caldera.
08:30: Glacial flood begins in the Skeidará river.
09:00: The road over Skeidarársandur closed.
Around 10:00: Powerlines on Skeidarársandur cut.
10-11:00: Destruction of roadway over Skeidarársandur begins.
11:15: The Post and Telecommunication Administration Fibre optic cable cut.
12:45: Bridge over Sandgígjuukvísl ripped apart.
During the fifth hour: Glacial flood begins at Súla, at the western part of the Skeidarárjökull glacial tongue that crawls from Vatnajökull. Damage results to Skeidarárbrú bridge.
Last evening: High activity still being detected by equipment at Grímsfjall.
During the eleventh hour: The flood reaches its high mark with gushing and sweeping aside everything in its path at a phenomenal rate of 45,000m3 per second.
Nov. 6. (Wednesday morning): Flood waters subsiding, expected to halt later in the day.
Daily News from Iceland November 6, 1996.
Repair bill climbs as flood damage is assessed
Latest estimates put the cost of damage caused to roads and infrastructure by the Vatnajökull flood at between US$9-10.6 million.
As torrents of sub-glacial water and debris continue to inundate large swaths of the Skeidarársandur region of south Iceland, officials at the Public Roads Administration say it is impossible to put a date on the reopening of normal road links in the area.
A 10 km section of the 35 km long stretch of main road running across the flat sandy plains of Skeidarásandur has been destroyed by the raging floodwaters.
Bridges in the area have been seriously affected, with damage to the structure spanning the Gýgja river put at US$4.5 million. An engineer with the PRA who yesterday examined the Skeidarárbrú bridge, the longest in Iceland, said repairs would cost at least US$3 million.
One of the bridge's pillars has been swept away by the flood, as has one of its four 170-metre-long sections of roadway.
Initial reports say the final damages bill could surpass that of the famous 1973 volcanic eruption in the Westman Islands off Iceland's south coast.
Addressing the Althing, Iceland's legislative assembly, yesterday, Prime Minister Davíd Oddsson assured lawmakers that temporary repairs to the affected region's roads would be carried out as soon as possible.
Resumption of volcanic activity at Vatnajökull?
A billowing plume of ash-laden steam rising 12,000 feet up from the Vatnajökull eruption canyon for 15-20 minutes has scientists disagreeing over its cause.
A pilot making a sightseeing flight over the flood area and the Vatnajökull glacier reported the activity at 13:17 yesterday alerting scientists of the resumption of intense volcanic activity. A second pilot reported seeing two places where steam was rising.
Experts are divided in their opinions as to the cause with some saying it is due to the enormous release of pressure from the estimated 3km3 of water that at one point gushed at a rate of 45,000m3 per second from the Grímsvötn caldera. Others warn that it could be a resumption of the eruption.
What is clear is that a 3-4km long subsidence of the Vatnajökull glacier runs from Grímsvötn. A melting of the ice from the water streaming from the caldera undoubtably caused the huge depression which in a few places has collapsed forming giant holes. Some have a radius of around 200m and water can clearly be seen flowing below.
The giant flood that ensued once the natural ice-dam of the Grímsvötn caldera had disintegrated is the largest of its kind in Iceland in recorded history. It is certainly the greatest flood to ensue from an eruption this century, surpassing the last significant glacial flood in 1938 whose high mark rate of flow was 40,000m3 per second. The Skeidarárhlaup glacial flood, as the present one is being referred to, flowed at one point at 45,000m3 per second. Flood water continues to stream south although its intensity, force and volume has lessened considerably.
Daily News from Iceland November 7, 1996.
Glacial flood streams 35km out into the ocean
Glacial flood water from the Vatnajökull eruption which at its peak gushed at a rate of 45,000km3 per second has streamed 35km out into the ocean.
According to oceanographer Jón Ólafsson working aboard the research vessel Bjarni Sćmundsson, their is a strong current streaming west after flowing out from Skeidarársandur plain on Iceland's south coast.
When it meets the ocean the temperature of the glacial flood water is around 0°C/32°F, but it warms after blending with the sea, which in that area is around 8°C/46°F.
Ólafsson says there is no evidence to suggest a danger to fish stocks, and believes that the fish have moved from the area.
Daily News from Iceland November 8, 1996.