The Iceland Volcano Thread

rickdangerouss · 23-09-2014 02:20PM

Jon's Website created allot or opinion's, the site is very "marmite" either you like the site or you do not.

What I understand is that Jon has contact with different official\semi official groups of people, some of this information finds its way on to the website. How much of this "information goes through the grape vine", I do not know.

This event is a once in a life time or could be 2 or three. Everyone is learning from it, including the professional's.
I understand that the 3 options from the IMO reports are weighted and the 1st one has the highest change, however it could be months, before this takes place.

The Caldera dropping is at around 24+ meters, wait for a quick drop of dozens if not 100's of meters, maybe then think of VEI time.

fits · 23-09-2014 06:15PM

All the volcanologists are gone to a conference this week anyway, so they must not be expecting anything to happen soon!

fits · 23-09-2014 06:20PM

maquiladora wrote: »

I've been following Jon's writings since 2010 and I actually find that he generally doesn't sensationalize or hype things up at all. I've never seen him write like this about Katla, Hekla or Grímsvötn etc.. I think this is actually a case where he honestly believes that a large eruption at the caldera is very likely to happen. Officially, that scenario is 1 of the 3 likely possibilities anyway.

I thought he had really hyped up a major eruption at hekla (or Katla) when eyjafjallajokull went up, but perhaps I am mistaking him for somebody else.

I was in Iceland this time last year and was sitting beside one of their meteorologists on a domestic flight across the middle of the country in clear skies. I pretty much got a guided tour of all the geological features from a guy who knew the place like the back of his hand. Best flight ever!

SeaBreezes · 25-09-2014 12:16PM

Interesting article on S02 emissions:

http://www.visir.is/iceland-releases-more-sulphur-than-all-of-europe-due-to-eruption/article/2014140929356

The One Doctor · 25-09-2014 01:14PM

SeaBreezes wrote: »

Interesting article on S02 emissions:

http://www.visir.is/iceland-releases-more-sulphur-than-all-of-europe-due-to-eruption/article/2014140929356

Interesting that Bardarbunga is now a VEI 5, comparable to the 79AD Vesuvius eruption.

Reckless Abandonment · 25-09-2014 06:52PM

The One Doctor wrote: »

Interesting that Bardarbunga is now a VEI 5, comparable to the 79AD Vesuvius eruption.

It's no where near a VEI 5, if It was we'd nearly be able to hear It.

tomcosgrave · 25-09-2014 09:04PM

Bardarbunga may be erupting - but it hasn't exploded yet.
It's not on the VEI scale, or if it is, it's a 1 - there's not enough tephra (ash, cinders bombs) ejected to place it any higher than that.

Duiske · 25-09-2014 09:25PM

tomcosgrave wrote: »

Bardarbunga may be erupting - but it hasn't exploded yet.
It's not on the VEI scale, or if it is, it's a 1 - there's not enough tephra (ash, cinders bombs) ejected to place it any higher than that.

On Wikipedia it states that the fissure eruption became VEI 4 on Sept 19th, but the citation given relates to this article on Iceland Review, which says nothing about the VEI scale. I understood, like you, that the scale was a combination of explosivity, the amount of debris ejected and the height of the ash plume. Whoever edited the Wikipedia article seems to be confusing volumes of lava with volumes of tephra.

rickdangerouss · 25-09-2014 09:36PM

These links might be able to answer some questions regarding, VEI Scaling.

My opinion, make a best guess now, but wait till this stops, could be years or could end up with a big bang. VEI has been reviewed with mixed opinions on both sides of the camp, is it of use or not?

http://geology.com/stories/13/volcanic-explosivity-index/

http://oregonexpat.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/volcanic-fallout-or-lets-talk-about-a-real-eruption/

tomcosgrave · 25-09-2014 10:12PM

I definitely think it is of use and that table is excellent.

The point with VEI and saying that such and such an eruption is on such and such a point of the scale is how explosive is it. And having refreences for each point, such as Vesuvious or Tambora or whatever is really helpful.

Duiske · 26-09-2014 01:43PM

rickdangerouss wrote: »

These links might be able to answer some questions regarding, VEI Scaling.

My opinion, make a best guess now, but wait till this stops, could be years or could end up with a big bang. VEI has been reviewed with mixed opinions on both sides of the camp, is it of use or not?

Looking at your chart, Kilauea is described as a VEI 0, despite producing over 3.5 cubic kilometres of Lava in its current long running eruption. If amounts of lava were the basis for applying VEI numbers, as some appear to be doing for the Holuhraun fissure eruption, then Kilauea could easily be described as VEI 5, which it clearly isn't. Must see if I can find a volcanologists blog where I can ask about it.

By the way, that second link you posted, about Mt. Mazama, is an excellent read. Cheers.

rickdangerouss · 26-09-2014 03:59PM

Duiske wrote: »

Looking at your chart, Kilauea is described as a VEI 0, despite producing over 3.5 cubic kilometres of Lava in its current long running eruption. If amounts of lava were the basis for applying VEI numbers, as some appear to be doing for the Holuhraun fissure eruption, then Kilauea could easily be described as VEI 5, which it clearly isn't. Must see if I can find a volcanologists blog where I can ask about it.

By the way, that second link you posted, about Mt. Mazama, is an excellent read. Cheers.

I read from this site sometimes, a number of volcanologists post there, also Eric is a assistant professor of Geosciences at Denison University. Twitter has a ton of them under #bardarbunga too.

http://www.wired.com/2014/09/when-a-giant-asteroid-impact-created-its-own-volcanoes-magma/

http://www.wired.com/2011/11/how-big-is-that-scale-and-rates-of-volcanic-eruptions/

http://www.wired.com/2013/07/revamping-the-volcanic-explosivity-index-or-tiny-eruptions-need-love-too/

Duiske · 28-09-2014 06:39PM

If you overlook the huge hole in the ground which is spewing out molten rock and noxious gas, it looks like a nice, crisp Autumn evening in Iceland.

tomcosgrave · 28-09-2014 07:12PM

Duiske wrote: »

If you overlook the huge hole in the ground which is spewing out molten rock and noxious gas, it looks like a nice, crisp Autumn evening in Iceland.

What are you on about? I can't see anything?

stooge · 10-10-2014 10:59AM

Any word on whats happening with Bardarbunga? Thread has gone slient and no new stories about the sinking of the crater or possible future eruptions. Has it all just fizzled out?

rickdangerouss · 10-10-2014 11:49AM

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stooge wrote: »

Any word on whats happening with Bardarbunga? Thread has gone slient and no new stories about the sinking of the crater or possible future eruptions. Has it all just fizzled out?

Nope, still ongoing. The drop in the caldera has slowed a small amount. 5+ quakes, not so many.

50KM+ field from the eruption. Possible new shield volcano getting created.
Biggest event in Iceland for over 100 years.

If the eruption will stay at this slowing down rate, ETA of 5-6 months before it stops. Thats an estimate.

The drop is around 40+ meters, I understand now. If you use 6 months time, as a point of stopping. The drop could be around 150+ meters in total.

BB could erupt before that point, bigger chance is when the drop stops, with a drop of 150 meters, plus new pressure build up.

illumin · 13-10-2014 06:12PM

Nat Geo article:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141013-iceland-volcano-bardarbunga-lava-science/

RoisinD · 24-10-2014 11:07AM

Lots of increased activity over the past few hours. Don't know if it has any significance? http://baering.github.io/

Over the past few days there have a good few 4/5 quakes.

RoisinD · 04-11-2014 11:03PM

Live pictures looking pretty good just now
http://www.livefromiceland.is/webcams/bardarbunga

http://www.livefromiceland.is/webcams/bardarbunga-2/

Duiske · 04-11-2014 11:42PM

RoisinD wrote: »

Live pictures looking pretty good just now
http://www.livefromiceland.is/webcams/bardarbunga

http://www.livefromiceland.is/webcams/bardarbunga-2/

Just for a bit of perspective on the size of this eruption, the distance between the camera and the eruption site is the same as the straight-line distance between O'Connell Bridge in Dublin and Celbridge, Co Kildare. (a little over 18km's)

RoisinD · 14-11-2014 12:19AM

Increase in activity over the past few hours http://baering.github.io/

Rikand · 29-11-2014 11:27PM

http://icelandreview.com/news/2014/11/28/photos-glowing-lava-fall-holuhraun

glowing lava fall in iceland

RoisinD · 14-12-2014 10:29PM

Increased activity today following a slowing down over the past few weeks. Don't know if it has any significance: http://baering.github.io/

rickdangerouss · 28-02-2015 07:08PM

The eruption has ended. 85 Square KM + in size.

Just to many ways this eruption was unique to put in one post.

The eruption in Holuhraun, which began 31 August 2014, has come to an END.
The area continues to be closely monitored.
Gas contamination is still detected around the eruption site.
No changes have been made to the restricted area north of Vatnajökull.
The Civil Protection still operates in alert phase.
Aviation Colour Code for Bárðarbunga has been downgraded from orange to yellow.

http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/articles/nr/2947

hotwhiskey · 03-03-2015 11:23PM

Not in Iceland. But Chile. Villarrica erupting some 465 miles south of Santiago de Chile.

3-3-15-villarrica-3.jpg?itok=ya5txxdq

iora_rua · 14-03-2015 02:42PM

Is it true that a dormant volcano in Kerry (Derrynane) has started to erupt? Or have I just misheard something ... can't see anything on the Kerry regional Boards thread.

Stinicker · 14-03-2015 02:52PM

There was a furze fire on top of a mountain in Derrynane which coincidentally is an extinct volcano. Some photos and bit of Kerry cute hoorism at its best :pac:

https://www.facebook.com/149104368441351/posts/952211884797258

iora_rua · 14-03-2015 03:07PM

Stinicker wrote: »

There was a furze fire on top of a mountain in Derrynane which coincidentally is an extinct volcano. Some photos and bit of Kerry cute hoorism at its best :pac:

https://www.facebook.com/149104368441351/posts/952211884797258

Thanks - I can put the rosary beads away then ...

Alexis Sanchez · 16-03-2015 04:06AM

iora_rua wrote: »

Thanks - I can put the rosary beads away then ...

Is that some sort of joke? Guatemala and the Philippines are predominately Catholic countries, yet volcanic eruptions there took hundreds of lives.

GhostInTheRuins · 16-03-2015 02:26PM

Alexis Sanchez wrote: »

Is that some sort of joke? Guatemala and the Philippines are predominately Catholic countries, yet volcanic eruptions there took hundreds of lives.

I may be wrong, but I think it was actually a joke, yes.

The Iceland Volcano Thread

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