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"The Icelandic Meteorological
Office (IMO) did not issue a warning last weekend in connection with increased
seismicity beneath the Vatnajökull ice-cap. If signs of an eruption were
apparent, IMO would issue a warning immediately."
Pall Einarsson, a professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland, says the area around Bárdarbunga is showing signs of increased activity. There is "every reason to worry," said Einarsson. Although a lack of equipment in the area prevents him from accurately measuring the depth and location of the increased activity, Einarsson warned that the sustained earthquake tremors near the volcano are the strongest recorded in recent times and there is "no doubt" the lava is rising. Bárdarbunga dwarves the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which shut down most of Europe's airspace and grounded hundreds of planes last year after its ash-laden clouds drifted across the continent's skies. Tephra from a large Bárdarbunga eruption "could affect flight traffic and temperature in northern part of the world," says Wikipedia A large and powerful stratovolcano, the Bárbarbunga volcanic system is thought to be about 200 km (124 miles) long and up to 25 km (15 miles) wide. The volcano's main crater measures 70 sq km (27 sq miles) long, up to 10 km (6 miles) wide and about 700 meters (2296 ft), and is completely filled with ice. More than a third of a mile deep, and completely filled with ice. Bárdarbunga last erupted in 1910. However, volcanologists believe its last major eruption occurred in 1477 when it produced the largest known lava flow on earth of the past 10,000 years, along with a large ash and pumice fallout. Located under the Vatnajökull glacier, Bárđarbunga rises to 2,009 m (6,591 feet) above sea level, making it the second highest mountain in Iceland.
Vatnajökull glacier (Glacier of lakes), in turn, is the largest glacier in
Iceland. Indeed, with an area of 8,100 sq km (3,127 sq. miles), Vatnajökull is
the largest ice cap in Europe by volume (3,100 cubic km/744 cubic miles) and the
second largest in area.
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