Thousands of seismic tremors have prompted authorities in Iceland to raise the aviation threat warning posed by a volcano to orange, the second highest alert status.
The Bardarbunga volcano, located in central Iceland beneath the giant Vatnajokull glacier, is the country’s second highest mountain. Recent indicators suggest the ice-covered volcano may erupt.
In 2010 Eyjafjallajokull, another of Iceland’s volcanoes erupted disrupting air traffic for weeks, causing an estimated $US1.7 billion in losses.
On August 18 seismologists recorded the the region’s strongest earthquake since 1996 when Bardarbunga last erupted. Since August 16 there have been some 2,000 tremors, mostly five to 10 kilometers deep.
Magma activity can create pressure on surrounding rock, causing it to fracture, resulting in earthquakes. If magma rises toward the surface, it could vaporise the ice cap, resulting in a rapid buildup of steam and pressure that would cause the mountain to blow open and send water vapor, ash and fine rock particles high into the air creating a cloud which can disrupt air traffic for weeks.
"As evidence of magma movement shallower than 10 km implies increased potential of a volcanic eruption, the Bardarbunga aviation colour code has been changed to orange," Iceland’s meteorological office told Reuters.
"Presently there are no signs of eruption, but it cannot be excluded that the current activity will result in an explosive subglacial eruption, leading to an outburst flood and ash emission."
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