The image is from the “Live from Iceland” Mila webcam.
A second webcam image shows the eruption in progress from a different angle.
h/t to Chris Beal via Twitter
The latest report from the Icelandic Met Office says:
The earthquake activity today continues at the northern part of the dyke intrusion. The largest earthquake in the dyke since the end of August occurred at 16:27 today with magnitude 4.5. These are the largest earthquakes located today at the caldera rim:
kl. 06:15 M 4.8
kl. 07:20 M 4.6
kl. 14:48 M 5.0
kl. 17:53 M 4.3
An earthquake swarm is taking place north of Herðubreið. About 80 earthquakes have been recorded today, all below magnitude 2. Swarms in this area are not uncommon. Due to high concentration of SO2, scientists are leaving the area.
Background from the Met Office:
There are about 30 known central volcanoes, or volcanic systems, in Iceland. Bárðarbunga, the second highest mountain of Iceland; ca 2000 meters above sea-level, is one of them. The volcano is placed in northwestern Vatnajökull ice cap and therefore covered with ice.
The enormous size and nature of Bárðarbunga was not fully recognized until it was observed in 1973 on an image from a satellite, 800 km above Earth (see below). A caldera in the volcano’s crown, 11 km long on the longer side, is covered with approximately 850 m thick glacial ice. Eruptions related to the central volcano can occur anywhere in the caldera, on the sides of the volcano and also in the fissure swarms to the NA and SW of the volcano, for a distance up to 100 km from the central volcano.
Inevitably, immense eruptions and explosive eruptions are a possibility in the system with imminent threat of ice melting in great magnitude causing a huge jökulhlaup (glacial outburst flood). It is presumed that Jökulsárgljúfur and Ásbyrgi (see NLSI leita) were created in such cataclysmic events in prehistoric times. Large jökulhlaup in Kelduhverfi in the 17th century are believed to be related to volcanic activity in Bárðarbunga.
Over the last seven years, seismic activity has been gradually increasing in Bárðarbunga and the fissure swarm north of the volcano. This activity diminished after the Grímsvötn eruption in May 2011, but soon after, the activity started to gradually increase again. The current seismic activity began 16th August 2014.
Detailed chapter in English on Bárðarbunga
Because of the current seismic activity in nortwestern Vatnajökull, IMO has been allowed to distribute the chapter Bárðarbunga System, an extract from a much larger work in progress:
In 2011, the Icelandic government approved a proposal by the Minister for the Environment for the preparation of a general risk assessment regarding volcanic eruptions in Iceland. The initial three years have focussed on an appraisal of current knowledge and initial assessment. It will take 15–20 years to complete and require a joint effort by various institutions.
The proposal was based on an estimate made by the Icelandic Meteorological Office in collaboration with the Civil Protection Department of the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland and the Icelandic Road Administration.
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Dang!
Past 10 hrs: eight quakes above M3 with a Mag 4.8 and 5.2 (2 hrs ago). All under Bardarbunga.
http://en.vedur.is/photos/jarvatj_rit/140911_0155.png
This is a snapshot of the baering/3DBulge visualization 140910 21:10 CDT
Barbardunga is the location of the big balloons.
Facebook photo
You can cycle backward to see about 9 images at prior times.
ruv.is: Subsidence by hundred of meters possible 9/11 16:41 GMT
A decent schematic of what is going on a Bardarbunga.
http://www.ruv.is/files/myndir/oskjusig_lagmark_0.png?1410372732
Ramping up:
http://en.vedur.is/photos/jarvatj_rit/140911_2045.png
One Mag 3 near Askja
the pipeline under the fissure is weakening, Mag 1.9 is the biggest in 16 hrs.
at least 7 quakes above Mag 3.0, one 4.5 and one 5.2 under Bardarbunga. a couple below 10 km
and a new cluster due west of Bardarbunga. Mag 1.6-2.1, but several in the past 4 hrs.
http://en.vedur.is/photos/jarvatj/140911_2045.png
Stephen Rasey
Why do the larger 5+ mag earthquakes happen around 18 hours apart?
Mac
Large-scale subsidence of the caldera occurs, prolonging or strengthening the eruption on Holuhraun. In this situation, it is likely that the eruptive fissure would lengthen southwards under Dyngjujökull, resulting in a jökulhlaup and an ash-producing eruption. It is also possible that eruptive fissures could develop in another location under the glacier.
Why M5+ 18 hrs apart?
1. The system has reached a metastable status where the eruption at the fissure is at a relatively constant rate which is “deflating” the magma chamber under Bardarbunga at a constant rate allowing for a constant time between M5 quakes as the core collapses into the chamber. See the link to the schematic a 9/11 10:23.
2. I have no idea. 😉
While the explanation in (1) isn’t wrong, it doesn’t answer the questions:
Why is the fissure eruption not increasing in length
Why is the fissure eruption remaining constant in volume? Why isn’t it eroding a fatter lava tube? Why isn’t it choking off?
Why did another fissure open up south of the main fissure and then peter out?
As the core falls into the magma chamber, why are we getting a Mag 5 every 18 hrs and not a mag 4.5 every 6 hrs? Or Mag 4 every 2 hrs? (same energy per unit time.)
What’s going on (and off) at Askja?
3. Whether we get another day, 2day, week of 18hr spacing of Mag5 quakes, it isn’t going to stay that way for long.
So much for “Ramping up.” Probably as quite as it has been in quakes in two weeks.
http://en.vedur.is/photos/jarvatj_rit/140912_1520.png
Past 16 hours. A mag 5.2, a 2.9, both at Barbardunga, shallow, about 3 km.
Everything else is under Mag 2.2
Nothing shallow at the fissure or NE of Askja.
Many events at the fissure, but Mag 1-2.2 and 5 to 12 km.
WNW of Barbardunga still has a few recent Mag 14-1.8, less than 3 km.
http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE0LzA5LzExLzI1L0ljZWxhbmRWb2xjLmEyMDM2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTE0NDB4MTAwMD4KZQlqcGc/9f104587/551/Iceland%20Volcano%20Lava%20Flow%2002.jpg
See more of these at: Mashable 9/11/14 Bardarbunga
The area is rocking again.
Eight Mag3+ quakes in the past 8 hours, all at Bardarbunga.
2 Mag 2-3 quakes under the fissure.
http://en.vedur.is/photos/jarvatj_rit/140913_0100.png
Eruption is a stinker
Pun intended 🙂
Degassing from the volcanic eruption is now estimated to be up to 750 kg/sec.
26 hrs since my 9/12 6:08 pm where I said, “Its rocking again.”
From that moment on… almost nothing.
One Mag 4.9 and two 3.6s at Barbardunga and little over 2.5.
At the fissure, the quakes are deep, below 14 km.
http://en.vedur.is/photos/jarvatj_rit/140914_0300.png
Gas cloud from the eruption drifts to the east. High level of SO2, sulphur dioxide, was measured at Reyðarfjörður last night around 10:00 o’clock. The highest value measured were just under 4000 micrograms per cubic meter. These are the highest values measured in Iceland. High level, 685 micrograms per cubic meter, was also measured in Egilsstaðir.
Past 16 hrs. Look at http://baering.github.io/
At Bardarbunga: a M3.7, M3.6 14 hrs ago, a M3.9 11 hrs ago, and a M 5.4 six hours ago.
all SHALLOW!! Less than 5 km, the M 5.4 was about 1 km.
Seismic activity at the fissure is deep and small. Biggest is a M1.8.
There is a Mag 2.2 in the direction of Askja.
I have not seen any estimates of lava flow rates from the fissure. From the webcam, it is still going on, but it could be at half the rate of a week ago.
I think hopes that Bardarbunga is going to keep the cork in are fading as the quakes there move shallow.
Past 9 hrs:
Bardarbunga is relatively quiet. One M 3.4 quake in the past hour, but only 4 smaller ones.
The activity is under the fissure, deep. A 6-10 of Mag 1.5 – 2.2 between 7 and 13 km and a bunch of smaller ones making a dense cloud. More activity, a little shallower, and bigger than a couple days ago.
There is also some more activity than recently near Askja and NE of Askja, all along the trend of the rift.
http://en.vedur.is/photos/jarvatj/140915_2225.png
Past 16 hrs:
At Bardarbunga: a M3.4, 7km 5 hrs ago, a M4.8, 10 km 4 hrs ago. Some smaller stuff, but not much shallow.
At the rift, a M1.9 at 9km, a M1.7 at 7 km, another M1.7 at 13 km. some small stuff between 5 km and 12 km. Less than yesterday.
Around Askja, nothing shallower than 4 km and total of 4 events largest M 1.2 and scattered.
It is difficult to estimate the lave flow rate. There is less activity in the fountains, but an increasing percentage of lava is erupting directly into the lava flow.
I was just looking at Bardarbunga2 which looks like it is not sending, so I switched to Bardarbunga cam which is more distant from the main fountains. There was a nice fountain on the right side of the view with a smaller group of 1 to 3 small fountains on the left side of the picture. As I watched the fountains flared a bit brighter, then the rift between the 2 fountain spots let out a pulse along most of the rift. Perhaps around 3/4 of a mile in length? Since then the area went quiet with only the left side fountains still in action. That was the most active I have seen it as of yet.
ruv.is/volcano says it is 1 month since the earthquakes started. 20,000 quakes in one month.
Icelandic Civil Protection: 17.09.2014, 11:30 UTC:, via Facebook:
Since the Mag 5.4 at 9/16 22:00, 17hrs ago, it has been quiet.
Only 5 quakes above M 1.8 and all below Mag 2.3.
One of these are in the Askja area, Mag 2.0 at 3 km 4 hrs ago.
Two M1.8 at the fissure, at 8 and 11 km
Three at Bardarbunga, a M2.2 at 8km and M1.8 at 5 km.
http://en.vedur.is/photos/jarvatj_rit/140917_1405.png
There is a 3.7 minute video of the Holuhraun lava fountains. Close up, full frame, at dusk and night. They appear to be in slow motion but that is only because they fountain so high. Meta data is missing, but I believe the video was shot within the past two days.
The video isn’t as spectacular as the Sept 4, ‘Volcano at Night’ helicopter shoot posted above. Still, it is worth noting and viewing.
You turn your back on it and ….
http://en.vedur.is/photos/jarvatj_rit/140919_1820.png
In the past 48 hrs there are at least 20 quakes at Mag 2.2 or greater.
1 was Mag 5.3 yesterday, six between Mag 4-5, eleven between Mag 3-4.
All at Bardarbunga between 2 km and 8 km, save one at 10 km.
It is my impression that the area of activity at Bardarbunga is expanding. Activity from 17.65W to 17.35W.
The fissure shows many small ones at 5-13 km, the biggest was M2.2. There are a very few quakes at 15km extending SW toward Bardarbunga. The map gives me the impression the events are migrating SW under the glacier, but the baering.io 3D plots gives less an impression of this
NE of Askja, the events are all Mag 0-1, not focused, slightly plainer, 2-8 km in depth.
The past 4 hours have been active.
There have been 7 quakes above M3 at Bardarbunga, one was a M 5 at 8 km, another M4.4 at 1 km. three hit within a few minutes of each other.
over the past 24 hrs.
The biggest at the fissure was a 2.3 and 2.5.
There is a scattering of activity NE of Askja, biggest 1.7
But there is more concentrated activity west of Bardarbunda, still small: biggest M1.5 at 4 km.
This thread will close soon. I am moving the observations to the Laki. thread
?oh=48b6c4bc74df65d67873cec5e2ea559f&oe=54CBE386&__gda__=1419064249_43c7837670b50e87bf3745f35e2c783f
Bardarbunga webcam 9/21 10pm CDT screen capture