Magma in Bárðarbunga caldera closer to the earth’s surface than was estimated

Magma seems to be considerably closer to the earth’s surface in Bárðarbunga caldera than was earlier estimated. The Scientific Advisory Board of the Icelandic Civil Protection reports that first analysis from a new seismograph, which was installed in the caldera on November 11th, shows that the earthquakes in the caldera originate in the uppermost 3 kilometers (1.86 mi) of the earth’s crust. 



According to Kristín Jónsdóttir, a scientist at the Icelandic Met Office, the origin of the earthquake swarm in the caldera seems to be 1 to 3 kilometers (0.62-1.86 mi) under the earth's surface, instead of 5 to 8 kilometers (3.11-4.97 mi) as was previously believed. This indicates magma is closer to the earth’s surface than was estimated.

The ice cap in Bárðarbunga is almost 1.000 m (3,280 ft.) thick. It has sunk close to 50 meters (164 ft.) in the center of the caldera and continues to subside.

If the huge 10 km (6,2 mi) wide caldera takes off it would most likely be Iceland's biggest eruption in decades with enormous ash clouds and glacial outburst floods (jökulhlaup).

Veteran reporter Ómar Ragnarsson recently flew over the ongoing eruption in Holuhraun and captured the great photos embeded below.

For more news from Iceland in English visit Icelandmag.com.