Aaand action.. Bárðarbunga

First a BIG thank you to all our readers for your contributions and especially for the way you have followed our proposed guidelines in respect to what you post. You are VolcanoCafé, a place where everyone contributes to a common interest!

The following is a loose collection of interesting maps, photos and figures and links provided by readers and collectively assembled by the dragons. The last 24 hours have been a bit chaotic, so have forbearance with us!

 

Where to get scientific updates

Note for everyone checking the IMO pages: the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland has a news page with the same content as IMO. Checking this would help with not overloading the IMO servers while still getting the same information, so please, use this link for the official scientific updates.

http://earthice.hi.is/bardarbunga_2014

 

Today’s contributions about the eruption

This showed up as a large tremor spike on the Askja SIL-station that immediately died down:

Credit IMO

This map shows the location of the Holuhrauni eruption:

Credit IMO

This infrared image was recorded by the Icelandic Coast Guard aircraft TF-SIF and gives a good impression of the lava flows from the fissure. The image is recorded as ‘black-hot’ (the darker the tone, the higher the temperature). IR operators usually have the option of switching between ‘black-hot’ and ‘white-hot’ to help them analyse the image. (Icelandic Coast Guard)

Taken shortly after the IR image, this is a daylight image (‘EO’ – electro-optical) from TF-SIF’s sensor. Annotations on the image show that TF-SIF was flying at 10,270 ft and the ‘target’ (cross-hairs) was 6.6 nautical miles away. (Icelandic Coast Guard)

Image of eruption site from Thorbjorg Agustsdottir

Our readers kept seeing light on the new Milawebcam and they sent images.

Webcam screenshot improved by Islander

Some great video footage was recorded in the morning during a series of low-level passes along the fissure. Camerawork credited to Hjalti Stefánsson

http://www.ruv.is/frett/video-of-the-holuhraun-eruption

According to IMO lava effusion peaked between 00.40 and 01.00 UTC, and then slowly subsided. Lava flow had ceased by around 04.00 UTC, although the fissure continued to steam. The end of the eruption, or at least this phase of it, was reported by Icelandic news outlets, while the Icelandic Coast Guard flew its patrol aircraft over the region to conduct observations and confirm that lava was no longer flowing. At midday London VAAC (the volcanic ash advisory centre responsible for Icelandic airspace) issued a notice stating “No VA [volcanic ash] observed. Overflight conducted and no lava was observed flowing from fissure N of Dyngjujokull. Repeat no VA observed”.

With the aviation code at Red, the Icelandic Transport Authority initially imposed a large no-fly area for IFR air traffic around the fissure and extending to the north/northwest (downwind) and up to 18,000 feet altitude. Later the restricted zone was reduced in area, and the altitude limit lowered to 5,000 feet. Subsequently all flight restrictions were lifted.

At 10.00 UTC the aviation code was downgraded to Orange. Askja remains at Yellow.

Close-up of the new Holuhrauni lava by Thorbjorg Agustsdottir via Twitter.

Article in an Icelandic online Newspaper posted by Junior.

http://www.visir.is/aegifegurd-vid-holuhraun/article/2014140828772

Ekström model of the caldera.

Richat ring in Mauritania

Need more real-time info? Check this

Another good site for scientific updates is Bardarbunga’s own website. He also has a serious twitter account @Bardarbunga_IS and a crazy twitter alter ego @Bardarbunga. Incidentaly, so do Dygnjuokull @dygnjujokull and Eyjafjallajokull @Eyjafjalla.

You can also check the twitter feed of the University of Iceland @uni_iceland.

In general twitter is a great place to get quick updates and there are many volcanologists, geologists and other volcano-related professionals worth following. Here are a few that we know of and follow, but if the readers know of others, please, let us know:

Dr Erik Klemetti @eruptionsblog, Dr Dave McGarvie @subglacial, Gisli Olafsson @gislio, Dr Jascha Polet @CPPGeophysics, Prof Simon Redfern @Sim0nRedfern,  Steven Hicks @seismo_steve, Prof Tim Wright @timwright_leeds

ETA: Further twitter reader suggestions:

Thorbjorg Agustsdottir @fencingtobba

The dragons