Posts Tagged ‘katla’

Katla Volcano To Topple Eurozone?

OK, maybe the thought of a volcanic eruption capable of toppling the economies of nations is a bit dramatic, but, given the current teetering status of many of the European nations within the Eurozone, and given the history of a nearby Icelandic volcano named ‘Katla’, maybe it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that a natural disaster of sufficient magnitude could begin the process of falling dominoes.

Remember way back in April of 2010 when a volcano in Iceland erupted and shut down air traffic across much of Europe for weeks? Well, another volcano nearby (Katla), which has always erupted within 1.5 years of it’s neighbor, has the potential to erupt TEN TIMES the magnitude of what we witnessed nearly a year and a half ago.

The last time Katla erupted was back in 1918. It was big time.

Lately, this volcano has been very active. Earthquake swarms and hydrothermal activity leave no doubt that this monster is about ready to do something. The question is, when it does, how bad will it be…

Reported in the ‘Iceland Review’ today, “Increased geothermal heat and seismic activity below Mýrdalsjökull glacier in south Iceland, which covers the volcano Katla, may indicate an upcoming eruption. Scientists are closely monitoring the volcano, although it is not certain whether an eruption is imminent.”

There is only one definite indication of an onset of an eruption in Katla. All sources on Katla eruptions over the past 500 years mention large earthquakes that can clearly be found a few hours before the eruption begins. That is in fact the only absolute warning.

Point is, we will only have a few hours warning, at best. Having said that, I believe we are being warned now, given Katla’s history (always within 1.5 years of Eyjafjallajokull) and the recent activity at the caldera.

From an insider today:

Never a dull moment! Katla activity was due to large hydrothermal activity. Low clouds stopped observers from seeing much but I can confirm that large cracks and new Calderon’s were observed to the southern end. We are now watching Katla even closer.

From a few days ago:

The last few days have seen increasing activity. Harmonic tremors followed by small quake storms (40 quakes in last 24 hours max 2.6 magnitude). Magnitude of quakes are low but it it clear that this definitely magma intrusion. What this means is the restriction on the magma is low and it is able to move through the bedrock without causing large quakes. This pattern may stop but can change very quickly. I still feel a large quake storm of mag 4+ would be needed for an eruption. This is not so for a fissure eruption but that’s just speculation. Inflation is still ongoing and although its very clear its building for an eruption BUT that could be a long way off yet. There is just no way of knowing. There is a theory that magma rises, causes inflation, rocks crack and are absorbed into the magma and this causes deflation.

KATLA Video

Thanks to PT for the link

Katla Update, October 5, 2011

For the first time, the Katla volcano is generating lots of earthquakes in the vicinity of magnitude 3 and higher. This month marks the maximum period in which Katla has always erupted following an eruption of it’s neighbor, Eyja… (6 months to 1.5 years later). The current activity there certainly looks suspicious. We shall see…

(Icelandic Met Office) “There are presently no measurable signs that an eruption of Katla is imminent; however, given the heightened levels of seismicity, the situation might change abruptly.”

Earthquake activity in Katla volcano October 2011

Sharp Series of Earthquakes in Katla Volcano

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Katla Volcano EarthQuakes – Flooding – Sulfur Smell

The Katla volcano in Iceland is making itself known once again. Been following this one for a while. It has a nasty history of blowing its top between 6 months and 1.5 years after it’s volcanic sister neighbor, Eyjafjallojokull, which erupted back during April 2010.

A geologist ‘insider’ tells me that harmonic tremors have started in Katla again. As of today there have been 2 earthquake swarms, making that 3 since June.

In addition, and more immediately tangible, the Myrdalsjokull glacier flood has just been reported (Katla is underneath this glacier). Last time this type of event did happen was in the year 1955, when a minor eruption is believed to have taken place under the glacier. There is no immediate proof that this is the case right now. This might just be hydrothermal water being released because of increased activity in hydrothermal areas that are in the glacier.

Following the flood there is a strong smell of sulfur and there might be dangerous gases in it. At the current time the flood appears to be growing and according to the news the bridge was still safe. But there was just 1 meter from the river up to the floor of the bridge.

Stay tuned, as this one ‘could’ disrupt Europe for awhile if she blows.

Update: July 9
The bridge over Múlakvísk river is gone, they are now evacuating Áftaver due to second flood. It is now very dangerous to be close to Múlakvísl due to poisons gases and risk of the flood increasing without any warning. A third glacier flood has now also started in Skálmu, but that is also a glacier river that flows from Mýrdalsjökull glacier. This does not seems to be just hydrothermal areas emptying. This could be a repeat of the 1955, 1999 floods when there were very minor eruptions.

We do not know what the events are leading to an eruption but historical records show this event has been a precursor to an eruption in the past, hence its folklore. A 2.2m quake has just happened in the caldera at 1.1km. Harmonic tremors are decreasing again but have been ongoing during the last 10 hours. GPS data shows inflation and deflation, very interesting.

Update: July 9
Harmonic tremors stopping again but has been on and off all the time. Reports coming in that sulfur is still very strong and is very dangerous to persons and livestock.

Quakes have ceased,for now, also a decrease in the harmonic tremors. Three cauldrons have formed in Mýrdalsjökull glacier and large cracks have formed around them. The Múlakvísl flood came from underneath the glacial tongue Höfdabrekkujökull. The glacial ice is considerably cracked where the flood emerged. Glacial ice is stranded in a large area which indicates that the flood is coming to an end.

While there are NO indications that a major volcanic eruption has started, or even about to in Katla, it cannot be ruled out that a minor eruption could have happened last night.

Icelandic TV Video of Myrdalsjokull-Katla Flood

Update: July 9
Harmonic tremors have just started again along with 7 more quakes.
3rd quake storm (today) now ongoing. Harmonic tremors now rising again.

Update, July 11
Action has subsided. Here are photos of the damage at the Myrdalsjokull glacier with Katla underneath.

Update, July 18

Katla has belted off a storm of what appears to be dozens of earthquakes today, within minutes, with one nearly a magnitude 4. This volcano, which has always erupted between 6 months and 1.5 years after Eyjafjallajokull (it’s neighbor), is ripe within the window of eruption based on its known history. Something is happening beneath the glacier today.

Also, a very interesting area of 3 quakes developed around the same time to the south of Katla, along the coast of Iceland. No known volcano is there either. Interesting…

Update, July 20
4 NEW cauldrons have appeared on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier and the cauldrons that formed on the 8 and 9th July have also deepened. This is due to magma pushing closer to the surface and heating the crust.This then melts the glacier ice and the water seeps into the rock creating a hydrothermal vent that increases the melt and forms a cauldron ( depression in the ice). This will increase the likely hood of another glacier flood to the south east of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

This does NOT mean it is about to erupt but the increase of such activity can only mean an eruption event is likely in the near future. On the 17th of July a earthquake storm happened with the largest quake being 3.8 magnitude. If Katla was bursting to erupt this could have triggered a larger quake storm and an eruption.

The next 6 weeks could be very interesting indeed.

Update, July 21

From our geological expert:

There appears to be 3 areas of activity. Inside the caldera itself, Goðabunga to the west we know is a hydrothermal vent, but to the south is something new. We noticed it starting 3 weeks ago and seems to be increasing in magnitude and frequency. Now this could be an extension of the East Fracture Zone growing due to Katla inflation of a weak spot in the crust that could develop into another hydrothermal vent, or even allow magma to breach the surface. Worth watching anyway.

Hydrothermal activity inside the caldera continues and the occasional spill (minor flooding) has occurred but this is what we would expect. Inflation is now evident to the east and south east but not rapid. Harmonic tremors have stopped again but they are small and infrequent at present. I MUST stress that this time of year the amount of earthquakes DOES increase, on the ice shelves, as the ice melts. That said Katla has not been this active probably since its last eruption in 1918.

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Iceland’s Katla Volcano Activity since Eyjafjallajokull Eruption

Given the very recent earthquake activity at Iceland’s Katla Volcano during June 17,2011, activity which looks like it has to do with magma movement, you may be interested in the following list of articles that I’ve written since April 2010 when it’s immediate neighbor, Eyjafjallajokull, erupted and interrupted European air traffic and commerce for a time.

My interest in volcanoes (among many other things) led me to quickly discover that Katla has always historically erupted between 6 months and 1.5 years after Eyjafjallokull. The thing is, Katla has the potential to be 10 times as powerful as Eyja… and is now well within the historical window of eruption.

A sudden onset of an earthquake swarm, as well as tremors with signatures of magma movement, has led many to suspect that Katla may now be at higher risk of an eruption soon. Sometimes these signals vanish as quickly as they come, and there is no way of knowing for certain what will happen next. We are watching this monster though…

Update from someone ‘in the know’ on this subject:

Since Friday there has been constant harmonic tremors from Katla. The quakes on Friday were Tectonic in nature but the underlying cause was probably due to magmatic pressure as harmonic tremors can only mean magma movement.

His general opinion:
Katla is not ready to erupt, but given that the exact nature of an eruption is not known, you have to reason that any quake storm could trigger an eruption.

Why the MSM silence on the matter?
The main reason for silence is that the wrong comment could cause major financial crash of stocks if the mention of a local or global disaster is mentioned.

Link to current quakes at Katla

From oldest to newest since April 2010:

Will Iceland’s Katla Volcano Blow Next?

Uh-oh! Katla Volcano Just Rumbled

Katla Volcano Update, 21-May-2010

Katla Volcano – 3 Earthquakes in Seconds

Katla Volcano 10x or 100x Eyjafjallajokull

Katla Volcano Caldera Earthquakes

Katla Eruption History

Katla Volcano Questions and Answers

If Katla’s West Side Erupts…

Are Recent Katla Volcano Earthquakes Seasonal?

Katla Volcano Caldera Earthquakes 2010-Sep

Iceland’s Katla Volcano – 6 months later

Sudden Activity at Katla Volcano

Mysterious Quake Circle on Katla Volcano

Sulfur Smell at Katla

Katla Volcano To Topple Eurozone?

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Mysterious Quake Circle on Katla

Watching the animated graphic of earthquake activity on the Katla volcano in Iceland, a strange quake circle has developed over the past 7 days.

A ring of earthquakes located far over on the western rim of the Myrdalsjokull glacier (Katla volcano rumbles underneath), is a curious site for sure.

Zooming in on the region using Google Earth, the quakes apparently ring around what appears to be a horseshoe shaped steep ledge, which may indicate that the quakes have been induced by shifting ice.

Or, maybe it’s an anomaly of the new British funded seismometers that have been recently added around the region (are they worried?).

But then again… who’s to say…

Does anyone over there see any rising steam??

Sudden Activity at Katla Volcano

base image credit: Icelandic Met Office
MSB overlay

Having monitored the Katla Volcano since early 2010, a sudden grouping of earthquakes at and around the volcano during the past 24 hours is new cause for concern.

Approximately 50 earthquakes have suddenly popped around the region.

More alarming however are the 6 that have rumbled beneath and within the Katla volcano caldera itself, the most caldera quakes in one day since this author began monitoring it in May, 2010.


If that wasn’t enough cause for concern, earthquakes are also rumbling around the volcano that erupted last April (Eyjafjallajokull), the one that shut down European air traffic for several weeks.

Just a few weeks ago, Eyjafjallajokull began showing signs of activity once again, the activity being new earthquakes. Having been mostly quiet since the eruption ended early last year, Eyjafjallajokull may now be indicating that it has more in store for us.


Of greater overall concern is the Katla volcano. Reason being, it has the potential to explode with up to ten times the force of that of its neighbor, Eyjafjallajokull. The last Katla eruption was during 1918, 92 years ago, and is way overdue for its next wake-up call.

The average time between explosive Katla eruptions has been 52 years since it erupted in 30 AD. Katla has erupted 38 times since.

base image credit: Icelandic Met Office
MSB overlay


Since May, 2010, approximately 132 earthquakes have rumbled within the Katla caldera. The concentration of these earthquakes appear to be located in three general areas, as shown in the following image.

The largest concentration looks to be near the eruption of 1755, with nearly an equal number located near the eruption of 1918. There is also a build up of quakes along the northeast rim.

base image credit: Icelandic Met Office
MSB overlay


We know that it is only a matter of time before this volcano blows its top. The explosion could be the biggest we’ve seen in a long time around this planet.

Katla has exploded with a VEI 5 in the past (that’s pretty big).

Stay tuned.


Update, one comment to this post suggests that new detection equipment has been installed around the Katla – Eyja region. If accurate, this could explain some of what we may be seeing. My own experience tells me that newly installed systems (any industry) take a while to tweak out issues. We’ll see how this plays out.

Update, Apparently just days ago, new, more sensitive seismometers (and more of them) have been brought online having been installed around Katla and Eyja, and financed by the British Geological Survey. The reason for the British funding for the new seismometers and software is to give better clues and more advanced warning before Katla does eventually go ka-boom. Even they know its history.

Update, 11-Jan-2011, Having seen some of the recent GPS data, it looks to my eyes that GPS sensor ‘AUST’, operated by the University of Iceland, and located on the northeast rim of Katla, indicates that this particular region has been inflating – or bulging. This is also one general area where groupings of earthquakes have occurred. Other nearby GPS sensors do not appear to show inflation however.

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