Global Volcanism Program | Brennisteinsfjöll

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Brennisteinsfjöll.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Brennisteinsfjöll.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Brennisteinsfjöll.

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

371040

1341 CE

610 m / 2,001 ft

63.933°N
21.783°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Cluster

Volcano Types
Crater rows
Shield(s)

Rock Types

Major
Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
Oceanic crust (< 15 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

33,526
33,526
163,469
203,012

Geological Summary

The Brennisteinsfjöll volcanic system, located east of Kleifarvatn lake, consists of a series of NE-SW-trending crater rows and small shield volcanoes. Postglacial and historical basaltic lavas cover a wide area. An eruption in 1000 CE was dated by its occurrence at the time of a meeting of the Icelandic outdoor parliament at Thingvellier. The most recent eruption took place in the 14th century.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Einarsson T, 1960. The geology of Hellisheidi. Natturufraedingurinn, 30: 151-175 (in Icelandic).

Gudmundsson A T, 1986. Iceland-Fires. Reykjavik: Vaka-Helgafell, 168 p.

IAVCEI, 1973-80. Post-Miocene Volcanoes of the World. IAVCEI Data Sheets, Rome: Internatl Assoc Volc Chemistry Earth's Interior.

Jakobsson S P, Jonsson J, Shido F, 1978. Petrology of the western Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland. J Petr, 19: 669-705.

Johannesson H, Saemundsson K, 1998. Geological map of Iceland, 1:500,000. Tectonics. Icelandic Inst Nat Hist, Reykjavik.

Jonsson J, 1972. Eldborgir undir Geitahlid. Natturufraedingurinn, 42: 59-66 (in Icelandic).

Jonsson J, 1974. Obrinnisholar. Natturufraedingurinn, 44: 109-119 (in Icelandic).

Jonsson J, 1977. Tvi-Bollar and Tvibollahraun. Natturufraedingurinn, 47: 103-109 (in Icelandic).

Jonsson J, 1978. Geology of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Orkustofnun Jardhitadeild, OS-JHD-7831, Geol maps and 303 p text (in Icelandic).

Jonsson J, 1983. Volcanic eruptions in historical time on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland. Natturufraedingurinn, 52: 127-139 (in Icelandic with English summary).

Saemundsson K, Einarsson S, 1980. Geological map of Iceland, sheet 3, south-west Iceland. Icelandic Museum Nat Hist & Iceland Geodetic Surv, 1:250,000 geol map.

Steinthorsson S, et al., 2002. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World - Iceland. Unpublished manuscript.

Thordarson T, Hoskuldsson A, 2008. Postglacial eruptions in Iceland. Jokull, 58: 197-228.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 9 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1341 ± 1 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Grafeldur (Selvogshraun)

1341 ± 1 years - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Grafeldur (Selvogshraun)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Cinder Cone
1341 ± 1 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1200 (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Kongsfell

1200 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Kongsfell

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Cinder Cone
1200 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1000 Jun 25 ± 4 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Eldborg at Lambafell

1000 Jun 25 ± 4 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Eldborg at Lambafell

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	1000 Jun 25 ± 4 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0950 (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Rjupnadyngjur

0950 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Rjupnadyngjur

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Tephra
0950 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0910 ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Kista (Breiddalshraun)

0910 ± 75 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Kista (Breiddalshraun)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Cinder Cone
0910 ± 75 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0875 ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Tvibollar

0875 ± 50 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Tvibollar

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Cinder Cone
0875 ± 50 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1040 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Eldborg at Brennisteinsfjöllum

1040 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Eldborg at Brennisteinsfjöllum

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Cinder Cone
1040 BCE ± 75 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2660 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Leitin

2660 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Leitin

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	2660 BCE ± 75 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

9000 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Heidin Há

9000 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Heidin Há

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Lava fountains
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava lake
9000 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Brennisteinsgigar

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Heidin Ha

Shield volcano

626 m

63° 58' 0.00" N

21° 38' 0.00" W

Herdisarvikurhraun

Shield volcano

63° 55' 0.00" N

21° 50' 0.00" W

Leitin

Shield volcano

430 m

64° 1' 0.00" N

21° 32' 0.00" W

Rjupnadyngjur

Shield volcano

64° 2' 0.00" N

21° 48' 0.00" W

Strompar

Shield volcano

550 m

63° 59' 0.00" N

21° 40' 0.00" W

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Brunagigir

Crater Row

64° 0' 0.00" N

21° 42' 0.00" W

Eldborg a Brennisteinsfjollum

Crater Row

520 m

63° 55' 0.00" N

21° 50' 0.00" W

Eldborg Nyrdri at Lambafell

Crater Row

440 m

64° 1' 0.00" N

21° 30' 0.00" W

Eldborg Sydri at Lambafell

Crater Row

64° 1' 0.00" N

21° 31' 0.00" W

Eldborg-Drottningu

Crater Row

440 m

64° 0' 0.00" N

21° 38' 0.00" W

Eyra

Fissure vent

64° 0' 0.00" N

21° 40' 0.00" W

Gigir at Storkonugja

Crater Row

63° 58' 0.00" N

21° 44' 0.00" W

Grafeldur

Crater Row

63° 57' 0.00" N

21° 46' 0.00" W

Helgadalshraun

Crater Row

64° 0' 0.00" N

21° 40' 0.00" W

Holmshraun

Crater Row

64° 3' 0.00" N

21° 41' 0.00" W

Kalfadalshraun

Crater Row

200 m

63° 53' 0.00" N

21° 57' 0.00" W

Kista

Crater Row

63° 56' 0.00" N

21° 48' 0.00" W

Kistufell

Fissure vent

600 m

63° 57' 0.00" N

21° 48' 0.00" W

Kongsfell

Crater Row

500 m

64° 0' 0.00" N

21° 40' 0.00" W

Litla Eldborg undir Geitlahlid

Crater Row

80 m

63° 51' 0.00" N

21° 59' 0.00" W

Rauduhnukagigir

Crater Row

340 m

64° 1' 0.00" N

21° 38' 0.00" W

Slattudalshraun

Crater Row

63° 52' 0.00" N

21° 59' 0.00" W

Stora Eldborg undir Geitlahlid

Crater Row

140 m

63° 51' 0.00" N

22° 0' 0.00" W

Stori Bolli

Crater Row

560 m

63° 59' 0.00" N

21° 45' 0.00" W

Svartihryggur

Crater Row

63° 58' 0.00" N

21° 41' 0.00" W

Thrihnukar

Fissure vent

540 m

64° 0' 0.00" N

21° 41' 0.00" W

Tvibollar

Crater Row

63° 59' 0.00" N

21° 45' 0.00" W

Vilfilfellshraun

Crater Row

340 m

64° 1' 0.00" N

21° 37' 0.00" W

Vordufellsborgir

Fissure vent

63° 54' 0.00" N

21° 52' 0.00" W

Photo Gallery

The Brennisteinsfjöll volcanic system, located east of Kleifarvatn lake, consists of a 45-50 km long NE-SW trending fissure swarm, with crater rows and small shield volcanoes. Brennisteinsfjöll is seen here in an aerial view from the south with light-colored lava flows spilling over a 100 m high E-W-trending scarp from vents at least 8 km to the north. The body of water seen bottom left is the Hliðarvatn lake.

Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1983 (Icelandic National Energy Authority).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Brennisteinsfjöll in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes (Link to Brennisteinsfjöll)

The Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes is an interactive, web-based tool, containing information on volcanic systems that belong to the active volcanic zones of Iceland. It is a collaboration of the Icelandic Meteorological Office (the state volcano observatory), the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, and the Civil Protection Department of the National Commissioner of the Iceland Police, with contributions from a large number of specialists in Iceland and elsewhere. This official publication is intended to serve as an accurate and up-to-date source of information about active volcanoes in Iceland and their characteristics. The Catalogue forms a part of an integrated volcanic risk assessment project in Iceland GOSVÁ (commenced in 2012), as well as being part of the effort of FUTUREVOLC (2012-2016) on establishing an Icelandic volcano supersite.

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Brennisteinsfjöll. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Brennisteinsfjöll. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Brennisteinsfjöll

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).