Jökulhlaup
26 April 2006 Filed in: Geology
There has been a jökulhlaup (glacier
burst) in Vatnajökull, the large ice-cap in south
east Iceland.
An enormous volume of water has flooded out of the glacier into the river Skaftá these past few days. Volcanic activity under the ice-cap causes melt water to build up and a sudden release causes the glacier to 'burst' and the outlet rivers to flood. Additionally, strong sulphur fumes were detected and a warning was given by the authorities to avoid the area.
Jökulhlaups are fairly common here and the flat plains between the mountains and the sea in south east Iceland are formed from deposits washed down in these incredible floods. The plains are called sandur.
We haven't been able to visit the area and have no photos or first hand accounts to relay. However, the national broadcasting company has this to report on their website. Click on the link, 'HORFA' to see a short film of the event and the ice canyon that formed on the glacier itself. The link may only be active for the next two weeks and only works with Windows media player. Morgunblaðid newspaper has some photos and film of the flood itself on their website
The largest jökulhlaup in recent times was in 1996 when a volcano erupted under the ice of Vatnajökull. The resulting flood was incredible and the incident attracted global attention. You can read a summary of the eruption and resulting flood here.
An enormous volume of water has flooded out of the glacier into the river Skaftá these past few days. Volcanic activity under the ice-cap causes melt water to build up and a sudden release causes the glacier to 'burst' and the outlet rivers to flood. Additionally, strong sulphur fumes were detected and a warning was given by the authorities to avoid the area.
Jökulhlaups are fairly common here and the flat plains between the mountains and the sea in south east Iceland are formed from deposits washed down in these incredible floods. The plains are called sandur.
We haven't been able to visit the area and have no photos or first hand accounts to relay. However, the national broadcasting company has this to report on their website. Click on the link, 'HORFA' to see a short film of the event and the ice canyon that formed on the glacier itself. The link may only be active for the next two weeks and only works with Windows media player. Morgunblaðid newspaper has some photos and film of the flood itself on their website
The largest jökulhlaup in recent times was in 1996 when a volcano erupted under the ice of Vatnajökull. The resulting flood was incredible and the incident attracted global attention. You can read a summary of the eruption and resulting flood here.