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If Katla’s West Side Erupts…
August 1, 2010Having monitored the earthquakes at the Katla volcano region in Iceland since mid May of this year, I have noticed that quite a majority of them have been located just off of the west northwest rim of the caldera. Katla being located beneath the Myrdalsjokull glacier, could create a massive flood situation if it erupts. More specifically, if Katla erupts somewhere near the west side of the caldera, the maps indicate a higher likelihood of glacial flooding down the ravine to the west.
The small Icelandic town of Hvolsvollur, which apparently has about 800 residents, could be at high risk should a major glacial flood occur from the Myrdalsjokull glacier. Looking closely at satellite imagery so as to see the contour of the terrain and discover where the flood waters would flow, it appears that there are quite a number of farms directly or very near the likely flow. No doubt that those residents are quite highly aware of their location risk, and I can only hope that they will quickly evacuate the area should Katla erupt.
Have a look at this image that I put together from superimposing the earthquakes that I’ve been monitoring on top of a NASA satellite image (satellite photo taken April, 2008). It clearly shows the build up of earthquakes on the west side, and you can see the ravine that the water would follow on its way to the ocean.
Now have a look at an image that I captured from Google Earth. It appears a bit further west than the previous image. It clearly indicates the likely direction of flood waters. No doubt, the Hvolsvollur region will be directly impacted.
If I lived in that area, and although the entire Island (and world) will be affected when Katla blows its top, I would have a preparedness plan ready to go. A pre-determined place to go, maybe family or friends living on a different part of the island, or perhaps a waiting G5 jet with its engines running on the runway :=)
Apart from getting out of there, having a well stocked supply of food and water is absolutely essential. No knowing how long the event will last, or how much ash will cover the region and destroy crops or clog combustion engines while bringing all commerce to a stop, you will need to eat and drink. Store extra food now, and you will survive later.
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