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Hekla

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  • Country
  • Volcanic Region
  • Landform | Volc Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  • 63.983°N
  • 19.666°W

  • 1,490 m
    4,888 ft

  • 372070
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Weekly Report: 27 March-2 April 2013 Citation IconCite this Report

On 29 March the Icelandic Meteorological Office noted that Hekla had been quiet the previous few days; no additional earthquakes had been detected since a period of increased seismicity during 10-26 March. The Icelandic Civil Defense continued to maintain a level of "uncertainty".

Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO)


Most Recent Bulletin Report: September 2014 (BGVN 39:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Elevated seismicity during March-April 2013

Introduction. This Bulletin report covers the unusual seismic activity recorded at Hekla from early March through April 2013. The last Bulletin report (BGVN 25:06) on Hekla clarified errors concerning NASA's airborne plume experiments on 29 February 2000, which occurred during Hekla's last eruption.

Several references have been included to provide more information on Hekla's most recent eruptions in 1991 and 2000. Below are also two maps showing Hekla's location and lava flows created during some of Hekla's eruptions (figures 2 and 3).

Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. Map highlighting Hekla's location in Iceland. Hekla is located at the juncture where the E volcanic zone, a propagating rift, meets the South Iceland seismic zone, a transform fault. Source: Gudmundsson and others (1992).
Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. Map highlighting lava flows created through Hekla's past eruptions. The map also identifies GPS stations (triangles) and tilt sites (square) used to monitor Hekla. Some stations are operated by the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) and others are operated by Penn State University in collaboration with IMO. The yellow lines represent Hekla's fissure, Heklugjá. Map was on found on University of Iceland's Institute of Earth Sciences website; credit to Sigrún Hreinsdóttir.

March 2013. On 10 March 2013, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) began detecting micro-earthquakes at Hekla. The IMO detected at least 7 high-frequency earthquakes whose magnitudes ranged from 0.4-1. The earthquakes were recorded over a small area approximately 4.5 km to the NE of Hekla's summit with a source 11-12 km below the surface. The earthquakes were judged as the result of brittle fracture rather than a consequence of magma moving. It is important to note a clustering of earthquakes such as these is uncommon during non-eruption periods at Hekla.

The IMO informed the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (NCIP) of the occurrence of these earthquakes. This type of activity had not been seen since Hekla's last eruption. With this information the NCIP and the Police Commissioner at Hvolsvöllur declared an 'uncertainty phase', which is the lowest of three warning level regarding natural hazards. The IMO also changed the Aviation Colour Code from Green to Yellow. The Aviation Colour Code is a 5-level color code scale that informs the aviation community of a volcano's status. The 5 levels in order of increasing volcanic activity are Grey, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. According the IMO website, the Yellow color code signifies that a "volcano is experiencing signs of elevated unrest above known background levels or, after a change from [a] higher alert level…"

On 28 March, no seismic activity was detected at Hekla for ~4 days. No obvious signs of an imminent eruption were reported. Nevertheless, the 'uncertainty phase' warning level was kept in effect and the Aviation Colour Code remained Yellow. For the last few days of March 2013, no new activity was reported.

April 2013. For the first three days of April, Hekla remained quiet, but the 'uncertainty phase' warning level remained in effect. On 4 April, the IMO changed the Aviation Colour Code from Yellow to Green. No changes in gas or heat were observed at Hekla's summit and no crustal movement was detected. Due to the low activity, the 'uncertainty phase' warning level was removed.

Hekla continued to be quiet until 26 April, when an M 1.1 earthquake occurred in the same area as the earthquakes in March. No other activity was reported at Hekla for the rest of April.

References. Aviation Colour Code map, Icelandic Meteorological Office, date accessed 17 March 2015, (URL: http://en.vedur.is/weather/aviation/volcanic-hazards/ )

Gudmundsson, A., Oskarsson, N., Grönvold, K., Saemundsson, K., Sigurdsson, O., Stefansson, R., Gislason, S., Einarsson, P., Brandsdottir, B., Larsen, G., Johannesson, H., and Thordarson, T., 1992, The 1991 eruption of Hekla, Iceland, Bulletin of Volcanology, v54, pp 238-246, date accessed 16 March 2015 (URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00278391 )

Hekla volcano 2013-daily reports, Trip to Iceland, 27 March 2013, date accessed March 17, 2015, (URL: http://www.trip-to-iceland.com/culture/hekla-volcano-2013-daily-reports/ )

Höskuldsson, Á., Óskarsson N., Pedersen, R., Grönvold, K., Vogfjörð, K., and Ólafsdóttir, R., 2007, The Millennium Eruption of Hekla in February 2000. Bulletin of Volcanology, v70 (2), pp 169-82, DOI 10.1007/s00445-007-0128-3, data accessed 16 March 2015 (URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-007-0128-3# )

Seismic activity in Mount Hekla, Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV), 26 March 2013, date accessed 17 March 2015, (URL: http://www.ruv.is/frett/seismic-activity-in-mount-hekla)

Soosalu, H. and Einarsson P., 2001, Earthquake Activity Related to the 1991 Eruption of the Hekla Volcano, Iceland, Bulletin of Volcanology, v63(8), pp 536-544, DOI 10.1007/s00445-001-0177-y, date accessed 16 March 2015 (URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-001-0177-y# )

Soosalu, H., Einarsson, P., and Jakobsdóttir, S., 2003, Volcanic tremor related to the 1991 eruption of the Hekla volcano, Iceland, Bulletin of Volcanology, v65, pp 562-577, DOI 10.1007/s00445-003-0285-y, date accessed 16 Mar 2015 (URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-003-0285-y#page-1)

Soosalu, H., Einarsson P., and Þorbjarnardóttir, B. S., 2005, Seismic Activity related to the 2000 Eruption of the Hekla Volcano, Iceland, Bulletin of Volcanology, v68(1), pp21-36, DOI 10.1007/s00445-005-0417-7, date accessed 16 March 2015 (URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-005-0417-7)

Information Contacts: Icelandic Meteorological Office, Bustadavegur 7-9, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland (URL: http://en.vedur.is/); National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (NCIP), Civil Protection and Emergency Management Department, Skúlagata 21, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland (URL: http://www.almannavarnir.is/displayer.asp?cat_id=133); and Sigrún Hreinsdóttir, GNS Science, PO Box 30368 1 Fairway Drive, Lower Hutt, 5010 New Zealand (URL: http://www.gns.cri.nz/).

Weekly Reports - Index


2013: March


27 March-2 April 2013 Citation IconCite this Report

On 29 March the Icelandic Meteorological Office noted that Hekla had been quiet the previous few days; no additional earthquakes had been detected since a period of increased seismicity during 10-26 March. The Icelandic Civil Defense continued to maintain a level of "uncertainty".

Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO)


20 March-26 March 2013 Citation IconCite this Report

The Icelandic Meteorological Office noted that since 10 March, at least seven micro-earthquakes at Hekla, ranging in size from M 0.4 to 1, had been detected within a small area about 4.5 km NE of the summit, at depths of 11-12 km. These earthquakes were high-frequency, suggestive of brittle fracturing rather than magma movement. At Hekla, such a clustering of earthquakes is unusual in between eruptions. Continuous measurements of borehole strain and ground-based GPS showed no changes in crustal deformation.

On 26 March the Icelandic Meteorological Office increased the Aviation Colour Code from Green to Yellow, because of the increased seismic activity. Icelandic Civil Defense together with the Police in Hvolsvöllur had also declared a level of uncertainty for Hekla, although there were no observable signs that an eruption of Hekla was imminent.

Sources: Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO); Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV)


Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

05/1970 (CSLP 43-70) Eruptions and lava fountaining from multiple fissures starting on 5 May

07/1970 (CSLP 43-70) Eruption ends on 3-4 July; area of fluorine poisoning is clearing

01/1971 (CSLP 43-70) Review of May-July 1970 eruption

08/1980 (SEAN 05:08) Large tephra cloud and lava flows

04/1981 (SEAN 06:04) Lava extrusion and ash ejection from summit crater

05/1981 (SEAN 06:05) SO2 detected from 1981 lava flows

01/1991 (BGVN 16:01) Tephra cloud to 10 km above summit; ashfalls to N coast; fluid lava flows from fissure vent

03/1991 (BGVN 16:03) Lava effusion ends in early March

02/2000 (BGVN 25:02) Fissure eruption; abundant lava flows produced

06/2000 (BGVN 25:06) Clarification of NASA airborne plume experiments on 29 February 2000

09/2014 (BGVN 39:09) Elevated seismicity during March-April 2013




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


May 1970 (CSLP 43-70)

Eruptions and lava fountaining from multiple fissures starting on 5 May

Card 0933 (07 May 1970) Eruption from fracture system; tephra fall to the N

The following telephone report from Hiynur Sigtryggsson of the Icelandic Weather Bureau was relayed . . . by Paul Bauer. "At approximately 1800 EDT (2200 GMT) on 5 May 1970, the volcano Hekla blew up and is now in eruption."

The following report from the National Research Council of Iceland was relayed . . . by Jules Friedman. "There is an eruption from the fracture system controlling Hekla. There are two outflow centers active at the present time, one is said to be N of Hekla, the other S of Hekla. Aparently short cross fractures across the main Hekla fracture system are involved. There was, at least yesterday (5 May) and possibly continuing today, an eruption cloud. According to reports here in Washington last night, the eruption cloud deterred light aircraft and prevented any more detailed observation. In a sector N of the volcano, there was a tephra fall, tephra used in lieu of ash to indicate different size fragments. The wind sector is pointed N so that this is the area affected by the ash fall, and some farms were being evacuated."

Card 0934 (07 May 1970) Inspection flight reveals 13 vents and fissures; dense ash cloud to 29,000 feet

The following report from the Iceland Defense Force was passed to the Center by Commander Bolst. "Reporting from the Commander Iceland Defense Force. Time of the report is 061140 Zulu of May 1970. Due unfavorable weather and danger from flying rock and pumice cloud, P3B aircraft, volcano reconnaissance flight, was directed to remain outside of ten miles with minimum altitude of 10,000 feet. Nevertheless, crew managed to observe the eruption area for about 20 minutes before weather closed in entirely. Apparently there are seven fissure vents along the southeastern slopes of Mount Hekla proper. These had emitted an estimated 4 square miles lava flow. An eighth vent was observed on the NW slope, the peak itself obscured by clouds and smoke. About four miles, bearing 070° from peak, five additional fissures also violently emitting fire and rock but no lava. Latter are not associated with peak or any existing crater but are on relatively flat lava plain. All 13 vents and fissures were emitting fire to an altitude of 500-1,000 feet, and dense ash and smoke were observed to 29,000 feet. Local reports indicate pumice fall and lava flow now subsiding. As area is relatively sparsely settled, Icelanders have accomplished the required evacuation and have situation in hand."

The following cable was received from S. Thorarinsson on 7 May. "Inspection Hekla area reveals eruption not in Hekla proper but separate fissure eruptions with very high fountains N, SW, and S of Hekla."

Card 0936 (11 May 1970) Present activity mainly lava with some pumice production

The following cables were received from H. Sigtryggsson. "Seismic activity recorded Reykjavik began at [2058 on 4 May] with irregular tremors generally increasing until [2200 on 5 May] but subsiding considerably after [2235] and virtually disappearing around midnight. Several earthquakes recorded, first one at [2058 on 5 May] largest at [2140, M 4] last earthquake at [0203 on 6 May]. No seismic activity observed since. Eruption activity first observed [2133 on 5 May] explosive at first with moderate pumice production depth of pumice layer close to 8 cm, 15 km from volcano. Explosive activity decreased after midnight and lava flow became predominant. Eruption cloud initially reached height of about 15 km, initial cloud drifted NNW. Moderate lava flow has reached length of about 2 km. Nuees ardentes not observed. No activity has been observed at the main crater of Hekla, activity mainly confined crater groups about two kilometers to NE of summit crater. present activity mainly lava production with slight pumice production."

"Further information on Hekla eruption. Lava eruption continues with slightly diminished intensity. Sickness of livestock possibly due to effects of volcanic ash or other effects of the eruption have been reported at some farms near the volcano."

Card 0940 (14 May 1970) Summary of fissure locations and activity; high amounts of fluorine

A flank eruption of Hekla occurred shortly after 2100 local time on 5 May. The erupting fissures were at oblique angles from the main Hekla fissure system running very nearly N to S (12° to the E). Initial lava fountaining reached heights of 700-800 m within three hours after the eruption began. The most violent vents were on the SE side of Hekla, four fissures erupted. The first fissure is located on the W flank 2,500 m from the summit and 150 m in length. The second fissure is located 3,000 m to the N of the summit with a length of 400 m at an elevation of 400 m. The third and fourth fissures are located on the SW flank; one at an elevation of 800 m and the other at an elevation of 700 m. They have lengths of 50 m and 700 m respectively. There was some change in lava composition during the first two days. The first ash produced by the eruption contained 8.65% Fe2O3, and the first lava contained 9.3% Fe2O3. Stronium was 310-350 in the same sequence.

Ten square kilometers of surface area were covered by lava during the first 24 hours of the eruption. After the second day the surface area covered by lava has not substantially increased but the thickness of the lava has increased. Total volume of lava is estimated to be 0.5 km3 by 12 May. Total volume of tephra is estimated to be 0.2 km3 by the same date. Seventeen cm deep ash was recorded 10 km from the volcano's summit on the axis of the ash fall. One-half cm deep ash was recorded 300 km from the volcano summit.

Local groundwater is measuring high amounts of flourine, which is toxic to sheep and horses. Fluorine concentration in creek water has been measured at 10 mg per liter.

Eruption cloud recorded on radar reached a height of 53,000 feet on 5 May. By 12 May the S and W craters had come to a complete stop. The W vent stopped on 7 May. The S vent stopped on 9-10 May. The N crater continues activity at a considerably reduced level.

Card 0944 (22 May 1970) New fissure on 20 May has 20 lava fountains

The following cable was received from Dr. Sigurdur Thorarinsson on 22 May 1970. "At 2240 on 20 May, a 1 km length fissure opened up one km further N of northern crater of Hekla volcano. The new fissure direction is NE-SW with 20 fountains playing. Lava flow considerable."

Information Contacts:
Card 0933 (07 May 1970) Icelandic Weather Bureau via Paul Bauer, American University, Washington, D.C. USA; National Research Council of Iceland via Jules D. Friedman, U.S. Geological Survey.
Card 0934 (07 May 1970) Commander, Iceland Defense Force via Lt. Cmdr. Bolst, U.S. Navy, Norfolk, Virginia, USA; S. Thorarinsson, Icelandic Museum of Natural History.
Card 0936 (11 May 1970) Hlynur Sigtryggsson, Icelandic Weather Bureau, Vedurstofa Islands, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Card 0940 (14 May 1970) S. Thorarinsson, Icelandic Museum of Natural History; G.E. Sigvaldason, Science Institute, University of Iceland.
Card 0944 (22 May 1970) S. Thorarinsson, Icelandic Museum of Natural History.


July 1970 (CSLP 43-70)

Eruption ends on 3-4 July; area of fluorine poisoning is clearing

Card 0974 (20 July 1970) Eruption ends on 3-4 July; area of fluorine poisoning is clearing

The eruption came to what is likely to be a definite end during the night between 3-4 July. In the areas in North Iceland most seriously affected by fluorine poisoning, so much of the fluorine has been washed away from the ash that the grazing grounds are regarded as tolerably safe for grazing.

Information Contacts: Sigurdur Thorarinsson, Science Institute, University of Iceland.


January 1971 (CSLP 43-70)

Review of May-July 1970 eruption

Card 1093-1094 (19 January 1971) Review of May-July 1970 eruption

The eruption commenced at 2123 ± 2 minutes on 5 May 1970, and lasted until 5 July, or exactly two months. The real Hekla fissure, which splits the Hekla ridge lengthwise, did not open up this time except in its extreme SW. The main eruption was from fissures at the base of the Hekla ridge to the SSW (Sudurgigar), and NE (Hlidargigar). The eruption in the Sudurgigar began at an elevation of about 800 m above sea level. The elevation of the highest Hlidargigar, where eruption began about an hour later than in Sudurgigar, is about 640 m. During the first phase of the eruption, the eruption cloud reached 15,000 m height. The main tephra fall lasted about two hours, during which time the tephra production averaged 10,000 m3/sec. The total volume of the tephra produced was about 70 million m3. The bulk of the tephra came from the Sudurgigar crater row SSE of the Hekla ridge. The tephra was carried NNW and reached the north coast of Iceland, 90 km from Hekla, in 2.5 hours. The tephra sector within the 0.1 cm isopach covers 6,950 km2 on land, but altogether there was some tephra fall over an area of about 40,000 km2. The tephra, which had an SiO2 content of 54-55%, was strongly polluted by fluorine, the fluorine content of the freshly fallen tephra being 800-2,000 ppm. About 1,500 ewes and 6,000 lambs were killed by fluorine poisoning.

The production of lava during the first hours averaged about 800 m3/sec. The flow from Sudurgigar ceased on 10 May, and in the Hlidargigar craters NE of the mountain on 20 May, but on the same day a new fissure 0.9 km long opened up 1 km to the north of Hlidargigar. From this fissure lava flowed incessantly until 5 July. A row of craters, now known as Oldugigar, was built up on this fissure. The highest one is about 100 m. The eruption fissures in the Sjkolkviar area are arranged en echelon, and so are seemingly the Sudurgigar eruption fissures. The total area of the 1970 lava is 18.5 km2. The lava from the Sudurgigar covers 6.5 km2, lava on the SW slopes of Hekla 2.1 km2, and the lava from the Hlidargigar and Oldugigar crater rows 9.9 km2. (Hlidargigar lava 5.8 km2, Oldugigar lava 6.6 km2, of which 2.5 km2 covered Hlidargigar lava). The total volume of the 1970 Hekla lava is about 0.2 km3.

The new Hekla lava is andesitic, containing a little olivine, and in chemical composition and texture similar to the lava produced during the last months of the 1947-48 eruption. The outer structure is typical aa lava.

The chemical composition of the lava justifies the view that the 1970 eruption should be classified as a Hekla eruption, although the fissure which splits the Hekla ridge lengthwise took very little part in it.

Information Contacts: Sigurdur Thorarinsson, Science Institute, University of Iceland.


August 1980 (SEAN 05:08) Citation IconCite this Report

Large tephra cloud and lava flows

"Hekla started erupting at 1328 on 17 August. Small earthquakes were recorded on local seismographs for 20-25 minutes prior to the first explosions but these precursors were not noticed until later.

"This was a mixed eruption starting in the summit area and quickly extending to the full fissure length of 7 km, longer than observed in the 1947 and 1970 eruptions. The initial activity at 1320 was a steam column, then a dark tephra column started between 1327 and 1330. The main tephra fall lasted about 2 hours and extended NNE, and the eruption column reached about 15 km altitude. The maximum tephra thickness 10 km N of the summit was 20 cm, and at the N coast, about 230 km distant, 1 mm or less. The fluorine content in many grazing districts is above danger level, causing problems for livestock, especially sheep. Lava began flowing shortly after the beginning of the eruption. The first flows appeared near the summit, then lava eruption extended to the lower parts of the fissure. Most of the lava issued within 12 hours and nearly all within 24 hours, forming four main separate lava flows, covering an area of about 22 km2. The volume of the lava is estimated at about 0.1 km2 and the tephra somewhat less than in the 1970 eruption, which produced 0.07 km3.

"Glowing scoria was last observed in the early morning of 20 August. Steam emission was continuing as of late August. For the first few days following the eruption this steam column was often darkened at the base, but no glow was observed.

"Preliminary chemical analyses of tephra and lava show composition similar to that of the 1970 eruption products. The last Hekla eruption took place 5 May-5 July 1970, making this period of quiescence of only 10 years the shortest recorded for Hekla since 1104. The shortest previous period between eruptions was 1206-22 and the second shortest was between the 1947 and 1970 eruptions. If the present eruption episode is over now, the behavior is highly unusual. All previous known eruptions have lasted from 2 months to 2 years. Initially there have been a few days of major activity, followed by a few almost quiet days, then renewed explosive activity and lava eruption concentrated on small parts of the fissure."

Information Contacts: K. Grönvold, Nordic Volcanological Institute (NVI); S. Thorarinsson, Univ. of Iceland.


April 1981 (SEAN 06:04) Citation IconCite this Report

Lava extrusion and ash ejection from summit crater

[The report in 6:4 repeats and expands upon the preliminary information received at press time for 6:3. These reports are combined here.]

An eruption of Hekla was first observed about 0300 on 9 April. The initial activity consisted of ejection of ash columns. Pilots said that ash reached 4.2 km altitude and radar registered the top of an eruption column at 6.6 km above sea level. Ash was blown N, toward the interior of Iceland, falling at least 30 km from the volcano. Lava extrusion from a newly formed summit crater began later on 9 April, reached a peak during the afternoon, then declined gradually until the eruption ended on 16 April. Three flows were extruded, the two largest moving down the N side of the main Hekla ridge, the smallest down the S side. The lava covered an area of 5-6 km2 and extended a maximum of 4.5 km from the crater, reaching the base of Hekla Ridge on both the N and S sides. After the initial ash ejection, activity was dominantly effusive, but a small amount of ash fell E and NE of the volcano later in the eruption. The area has remained inaccessible, but ash amounts were estimated to be only a few millimeters thick. No earthquakes were recorded prior to the eruption, and distinct harmonic tremor did not appear on seismic records until after the eruption began.

Volcanologists interpreted the April activity as a continuation of the much larger eruption of August 1980.

Further Reference. Grönvold, K., Larsen, G., Einarsson, P., Thorarinsson, S., and others, 1983, The Hekla eruption of 1980-1981: BV, v. 46, p. 349-364.

Information Contacts: K. Gronvold, NVI; S. Thorarinsson, Univ. of Iceland.


May 1981 (SEAN 06:05) Citation IconCite this Report

SO2 detected from 1981 lava flows

The COSPEC detected SO2 N and SW of Hekla's April 1981 lava flows.

Information Contacts: K. Grönvold; NVI; R. Stoiber and S. Williams, Dartmouth College.


January 1991 (BGVN 16:01) Citation IconCite this Report

Tephra cloud to 10 km above summit; ashfalls to N coast; fluid lava flows from fissure vent

[A preliminary report of Hekla's early 1991 eruption appeared in 15:12. Additional information from Agust Gudmunsson, printed in 16:1, has been added in brackets, replacing some of the original material from 15:12.]

On 17 January, after 10 years of repose, an eruption ejected tephra columns and fed numerous fluid lava flows from fissure vents. Local farmers noticed strong sulfurous smells around 1200-1300, 4-5 hours before the eruption began. Instruments, however, gave less than [30] minutes warning of the eruption. [The first earthquake associated with the eruption occurred at 1632. From 1642, the earthquakes increased in number and the largest attained M 3. Seven borehole strainmeters are located 14-45 km from Hekla, and a conspicuous strain pulse was recorded at 1636, just after the first earthquake. Volcanic tremor started at about 1700. No eruption column was detected by Icelandic Meteorological Office radar at 1700, but it had attained 11.5 km height at 1710. The eruption column was observed from nearby farms at 1705 and 1707.]

Images from the Meteosat geostationary satellite showed a plume extending NNE (azimuth 010°), over an uninhabited area, and by 2000 it was approaching the coast (more than 200 km from the volcano), where light ashfall was reported. Feeding of the eruption cloud appeared to have stopped by 2000, and the plume was clearly detached from the volcano by 2100. At 2300, Meteosat images showed a second eruption cloud, which was again carried NNE and reached 300 km in length before dissipating by 0300. Weather clouds then prevented additional satellite observations.

[During the early hours of the eruption, several fissures were active, including the southern part of the main Hekla fissure.] Numerous lava flows advanced W, E, and S, extending 4-5 km by midnight. Four flank vents were visible and glow could be seen from the summit area, obscured by clouds. Lava viscosity was relatively low, producing comparatively thin, fast-moving flows reminiscent of the 1980 eruption. [Tremor began to decrease at about 1800 and by 0400 the next morning was already down to a relatively low level. Since then it has been slowly decreasing, with occasional short-term increases.

On the second day of the eruption, activity was already more or less restricted to a single fissure on the lower southern flank, trending SE from the top of the volcano. One crater on this fissure was still active as of 8 February. Slight activity could be seen in another fissure on the S side of the volcano until 20 January, but with very little lava flow and no fountains.

The volume of freshly fallen tephra is estimated at roughly 0.02 km3. This is about 1/3 of the estimated volume of tephra generated during Hekla's eruptions in 1970 and 1980. The total area covered by newly erupted lava is 22-23 km2, and the estimated volume of this lava is 0.13 km3 [see also 16:3]. For comparison, the lava from the 1980 eruption covers 24 km2 and its volume is estimated at 0.15 km3. Similarly, the 1970 lava covers 18.5 km2 and has an estimated volume of 0.2 km3. The composition of the 1991 lava is very similar to that of the 1970 and 1980 lavas.]

Hekla, one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland, is near the intersection of the Eastern Volcanic Zone and the transform zone of S Iceland. Although near a zone of spreading, it is not a typical rift volcano. Its products are intermediate to acid in composition. The last two repose periods (1970-80 and 1981-91) are the shortest in Hekla's known history, since 1104. Hekla's previous eruption began on 17 August 1980 and produced about 120 x 106 m3 of lava and 60 x 106 m3 of tephra before activity stopped on 20 August. The eruption resumed on 9 April 1981, extruding another 30 x 106 m3 of lava in the succeeding week; [these two episodes are usually regarded as a single eruption] (Grönvold and others, 1983).

Reference. Grönvold, K., Larsen, G., Einarsson, P., Thorarinsson, S., and Saemundsson, K., 1983, The Hekla eruption 1980-1981: BV, v. 46, p. 349-363.

Information Contacts: P. Einarsson and S. Björnsson, Univ of Iceland; [A. Gudmunsson and]E. Tryggvason, NVI; O. Karst and J. Paquette, NOAA.


March 1991 (BGVN 16:03) Citation IconCite this Report

Lava effusion ends in early March

"The eruption that started on 17 January (15:12 and 16:1) lasted until 11 March, or nearly 53 days. The eruption produced mainly basaltic andesite lava, with a total area of about 23 km2. Its thickness is as little as 2 m on the steepest slopes of the volcano but exceeds 10 m on flat ground. The estimated average thickness is 6-7 m and the volume of lava is 0.15 km3. The volume of freshly fallen tephra is estimated as roughly 0.02 km3 but negligible when calculated as dense lava. Consequently, 0.15 km3 may be regarded as the total volume produced during this eruption. The lava and tephra are basaltic andesites, almost identical in composition to those produced in the eruptions of 1970 and 1980-81.

"Changes in the volcanic tremor, as well as field observations, indicate that the main eruption occurred from 1700 on 17 January to about 0400 on 18 January. During this period the effusion rate may have attained 2,000 m3/s, but the average production of lava during the first 40 hours of the eruption was ~800 m3/s. After attaining its peak on the first day, the effusion rate decreased rapidly to ~10 m3/s. The rate then decreased slowly during the next three weeks to a temporary minimum of ~1 m3/s on 9 February. The effusion rate increased again on 14 February and was ~10 m3/s on 16 February. The rate decreased to ~3 m3/s on 24 February, to ~1 m3/s on 6 March, and then remained similar until the end of the eruption."

Further Reference. Gudmundsson, A., Oskarsson, N., Grönvold, K., Saemundsson, K., Sigurdsson, O., Stefansson, R., Gislason, S., Einarsson, P., Brandsdottir, B., Larsen, G., Johannesson, H., and Thordarson, T., 1992, The 1991 eruption of Hekla, Iceland: BV, v. 54, p. 238-246.

Information Contacts: A. Gudmundsson, NVI.


February 2000 (BGVN 25:02) Citation IconCite this Report

Fissure eruption; abundant lava flows produced

On 26 February 2000 the WSW-trending, elongated Hekla volcano erupted. A fissure 6-7 km long opened along the SW flank of the Hekla ridge, from which a discontinuous curtain of lava erupted starting at 1819. Just a few minutes later, at 1825, an ash plume reached a height of 11 km and was carried N by light winds. Based on the tremor amplitude the eruption reached peak intensity in the first hour of activity, then gradually declined.

Seismic networks maintained by the Science Institute at the University of Iceland and the Icelandic Meteorological Office recorded short-term precursors. Small earthquakes were first detected by seismographs at various locations during 1655-1707. These gradually increased and the first well-located earthquakes (M 1-2) started at 1729, centered 1-2 km SE of the summit at depths of a few kilometers. A network of borehole strainmeters operated by the Meteorological Office also detected precursory changes associated with magma movements. A decrease in strain build-up rate, signaling a release of magma pressure, was recorded by a strainmeter in a borehole ~15 km from the summit at 1817.

Notice was given to the National Civil Defense and the Civil Aviation Administration about 40 minutes before the eruption, and the public was alerted about the imminent eruption about 15 minutes before it began through national radio broadcasts. Continuous low-frequency tremor began at 1819, at the same time the eruptive cloud was spotted.

Ashfall was reported on 26 February from Grimsey Island, ~70 km off the N coast of Iceland and 300 km N of Hekla. Although small amounts of ash fell in inhabited areas of N Iceland, most fell in uninhabited areas of the island's interior. Seven hours after the eruption's onset the ash deposit 21 km N had a maximum thickness of 4-5 cm.

Lava flows on 27 February covered a large part of the SE flank. That evening a lava stream flowed N from the erupting fissure at a rate of several meters per hour. Another more active lava stream emanated from three craters near the S end of the fissure; the stream was several kilometers long and advancing at ~1 m/minute.

On 28 February an eruption cloud was deflected towards the S by northerly winds. However weather conditions precluded direct observations. Tremor amplitude continued to slowly decline, and the strength of the eruption was decreasing (figure 1). Two eruption clouds were seen at 0500, confirming that activity was ongoing. Although the craters were not visible in the daylight, the most active crater just S of the summit produced three lava streams down the S flanks. Activity in the N declined during the day on 28 February. At 0630 one lava flow had reached the Vatnafjoll mountains at Lambafell, 5 km S of the summit. Advancing at ~2-3 m/hour, the lava front was estimated to be 8-10 m wide. That evening observers watched Strombolian activity in three craters at the southernmost part of the fissure.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. Tremor at Hekla during 26-28 February 2000 recorded at Haukadalur, 10 km W. At the beginning of the eruption, 1819 on 26 February, the tremor increased rapidly and reached a maximum at 1850. Tremor then decreased until about 0700 on 27 February and became steady. The tremor was approximately 10 % of the maximum value, on 28 February, but over 10 times greater than the normal value. Courtesy of Páll Halldórsson, Science Institute at the University of Iceland.

Ashfall was reported on the morning of 29 February 35-40 km S in Fljótshlíð. At 0500 volcanic tremor had started to increase and continued until 1000-1100. By about 0800 all activity in the summit had ceased. During the afternoon of 29 February activity at the southernmost end of the fissure increased again, producing eruption clouds ascending above the summit. In the darkness of the evening, three craters at the southernmost end of the fissure produced lava flowing SW. People watching the lava on the NE flanks reported that they could walk on the stopped flow there.

Vigorous Strombolian eruptions and lava flows on the fissure that cuts the SW slopes were seen during a reconnaissance flight on 1 March during 1100-1230. Four main vents and three smaller vents produced explosions at intervals of 4-5 minutes. At the base of the fissure a large tumuli had developed. The lava streams coming out through the opening of the tumuli joined a stream coming from overflows of the uppermost craters. The S-directed lava flows were fed by the crater closest to the summit. The lava field in the S had only advanced ~100 m since 28 February, but on 1 March it was growing toward the E. By 1 March lava had covered approximately 17 km2.

Increased activity was observed in the upper craters on 2 March, although bad weather persisted from 1200 on 1 March until midday on 3 March. There was also constant steaming from the SW craters, and, compared to 1 March, much larger steam clouds rising from the upper craters. At nightfall explosions were observed at ~30-minute intervals. Glowing lava streams were noted on the flank of the mountain on 2 March.

On 3 March a group of scientists reached the SW lava flow at 1300 and found that the lava front was ~10 m wide and advancing very slowly, ~1-2 m/day. While tracing the lava to the W the group noted that at some places the flow was spreading much faster, up to ~1 m/hour. Following the lava flow along its W side, the group reached its origin at the foot of the volcano, where it emerged from the end of the erupting fissure. At the origin, the estimated flow rate was 0.06 m/s, producing about 10 m3/s of lava. Due to the continuous degassing along the lava stream a blue mist was formed. The blue mist was also observed farther E along the flank of the volcano, indicating that lava was still flowing from the crater close to the summit area. The craters in this region fed the lava flow that moved S toward the Vatnafjoll glacier 10 km SE from Hekla. Later in the evening observers reported that lava was still flowing slowly towards Vatnafjoll. Explosive activity in the uppermost crater of the SW-fissure was characterized by small explosions at 10-20 minute intervals that produced white steam clouds with only trace amounts of ash.

Due to bad weather conditions on 4 March, no direct observations could be made of the eruption. Decreasing eruption tremor was detected. On 5 March the lava flow to the SW was still ongoing according to observations made in the afternoon. At sunset, a red pulsing glow was observed in the uppermost craters of the SW-fissure from the town of Selsundsfjall, 15 km SW. Small eruption clouds were observed on 6 March penetrating the weather clouds covering the summit of Hekla.

During a reconnaissance flight between 1730 and 1830 on 6 March the whole fissure was steaming vigorously and all of the lava flows appeared to have stopped. The lava stream in the SW had left behind an empty channel. Neither incandescence nor explosive activity were observed from the craters. Minor tremors continued on 6-7 March, but may have been related to lava degassing in the feeder dike.

At 0844 on 8 March the last eruptive tremor was detected on seismometers. Based on the end of detectable tremor, and with no signs of new eruptive products since 5 March, it was determined that the eruption ended on the morning of 8 March. Lava covered approximately 18 km2; the preliminary estimate of lava production was 0.11 km3.

Plume investigation. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) contained in plumes from Hekla was detected by the Earth Probe TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) instrument. TOMS imagery at 1154 on 27 February showed that the volcanic cloud was a narrow plume arcing from the volcano in southern Iceland, then N to Greenland, and finally E towards Norway. The plume primarily contained SO2 because almost all of the ash fell out locally. On 28 February the TOMS imagery indicated that plume stretched out over the Barents Sea and possibly into eastern Russia. By 29 February the SO2 cloud had drifted E in a band along the Norwegian and Russian coasts of the Barents Sea.

During a transit flight on 28 February a SOLVE (SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment) mission with an instrument-laden DC-8 aircraft flew through the plume shortly after the eruption ~11.3 km NNE of Iceland at 76°N and 5°W, just off the Greenland coastline. The plume extended up to ~13 km altitude, well into the lower stratosphere. Instruments also measured many in situ trace gases, SO2, HNO3, NO, NOy, O3, and aerosols (volatile and non-volatile), including their size distribution. From about 0508 until 0518 on 29 February the SOLVE aircraft again entered the volcanic cloud. The scientific team reported large enhancements in CN, NOy, HNO3, CO, and particle counts, ozone went to nearly zero, H2O jumped up, and there were strong scattering layers up to 13 km. The plume was a very impressive, orange, airfoil-shaped feature in the pre-dawn sky. The DC-8 engines needed an oil change and new filters after passing through the plume. A flight on 5 March detected enhanced aerosols and SO2 at 1301, but by that time the plume was so diluted that it represented no danger to the aircraft. During the three weeks following the initial encounter the DC-8 detected remnants of the plume trapped within the polar vortex. The resulting analysis concluded that volatile aerosols increased and the sizes of non-volatile large aerosols decreased.

Fluoride analysis. Ash from previous Hekla eruptions has often been the cause of fluorosis in grazing animals. However, during this time of the year most domestic animals are kept indoors, so fluorosis is not expected to become a problem. Freshly fallen ash was measured for soluble fluoride ions (F-). The result was 800-900 mg F/kg. Snow melted by the ash contained about 2,200 mg/l (ppm) of fluoride.

Information Contacts: Freysteinn Sigmundsson, Nordic Volcanological Institute, Grensásvegur 50, IS-108 Reykjavik, Iceland (URL: http://nordvulk.hi.is); Páll Einarsson, Science Institute, University of Iceland, Hofsvallagata 53, IS-107 Reykjavík, Iceland; Ragnar Stefánsson, Icelandic Meteorological Office, Bustadavegur 9, 150 Reykjavík, Iceland (URL: http://www.vedur.is/); Mark Schoeberl, Code 910, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD, 20771 USA; Michael Fromm, Computational Physics, Inc., 2750 Prosperity Ave., Suite 600, Fairfax, VA 22031 USA (URL: http://cloud1.arc.nasa.gov/solve/); Arlin Krueger, Code 916, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD, 20771 USA.


June 2000 (BGVN 25:06) Citation IconCite this Report

Clarification of NASA airborne plume experiments on 29 February 2000

NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) advised that information concerning two flights of their DC-8 aircraft as reported in BGVN 25:02 contained errors and requested that the information be corrected with additional details as follows:

"For approximately seven minutes starting at 0510 during a transit flight on 29 February to Kiruna, Sweden, a NASA DC-8 aircraft with a payload of SOLVE (SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment) sensors flew through the plume ~11.3 km NNE of Iceland at 76 °N and 5 °W, just off the Greenland coastline. The plume extended up to ~13 km altitude, well into the lower stratosphere. The aircraft passed thorough the volcanic ash far N and W, and at a flight level much higher, than the predictions reported by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), London. Instruments measured many in situ trace gases, SO2, HNO3, NO, NOy, O3, volatile and non-volatile aerosols, and aerosol size distribution. The scientific team reported substantial increases in CN, NOy, HNO3, CO, and particle counts, O3 went to nearly zero, H2O increased, and strong scattering layers up to 13 km were detected.

"A flight on 5 March detected enhanced aerosols and SO2 at 1301, but by that time the plume was so diluted that it represented no danger to the aircraft. During the three weeks following the initial encounter the DC-8 detected remnants of the plume trapped within the polar vortex. The resulting analysis concluded that volatile aerosols increased and the sizes of non-volatile large aerosols decreased."

NASA-DFRC also advised that the statement about the plume being a "very impressive, orange, airfoil-shaped feature in the pre-dawn sky" was erroneous. Post-flight interviews with the pilot indicated that there was no moon out, therefore pitch black sky conditions existed at the time of the encounter. The pilots had no visual evidence of flying into the plume.

Information Contacts: Gary Shelton, NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center, P.O. Box 273, Edwards, CA 93523-0273 USA.


September 2014 (BGVN 39:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Elevated seismicity during March-April 2013

Introduction. This Bulletin report covers the unusual seismic activity recorded at Hekla from early March through April 2013. The last Bulletin report (BGVN 25:06) on Hekla clarified errors concerning NASA's airborne plume experiments on 29 February 2000, which occurred during Hekla's last eruption.

Several references have been included to provide more information on Hekla's most recent eruptions in 1991 and 2000. Below are also two maps showing Hekla's location and lava flows created during some of Hekla's eruptions (figures 2 and 3).

Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. Map highlighting Hekla's location in Iceland. Hekla is located at the juncture where the E volcanic zone, a propagating rift, meets the South Iceland seismic zone, a transform fault. Source: Gudmundsson and others (1992).
Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. Map highlighting lava flows created through Hekla's past eruptions. The map also identifies GPS stations (triangles) and tilt sites (square) used to monitor Hekla. Some stations are operated by the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) and others are operated by Penn State University in collaboration with IMO. The yellow lines represent Hekla's fissure, Heklugjá. Map was on found on University of Iceland's Institute of Earth Sciences website; credit to Sigrún Hreinsdóttir.

March 2013. On 10 March 2013, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) began detecting micro-earthquakes at Hekla. The IMO detected at least 7 high-frequency earthquakes whose magnitudes ranged from 0.4-1. The earthquakes were recorded over a small area approximately 4.5 km to the NE of Hekla's summit with a source 11-12 km below the surface. The earthquakes were judged as the result of brittle fracture rather than a consequence of magma moving. It is important to note a clustering of earthquakes such as these is uncommon during non-eruption periods at Hekla.

The IMO informed the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (NCIP) of the occurrence of these earthquakes. This type of activity had not been seen since Hekla's last eruption. With this information the NCIP and the Police Commissioner at Hvolsvöllur declared an 'uncertainty phase', which is the lowest of three warning level regarding natural hazards. The IMO also changed the Aviation Colour Code from Green to Yellow. The Aviation Colour Code is a 5-level color code scale that informs the aviation community of a volcano's status. The 5 levels in order of increasing volcanic activity are Grey, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. According the IMO website, the Yellow color code signifies that a "volcano is experiencing signs of elevated unrest above known background levels or, after a change from [a] higher alert level…"

On 28 March, no seismic activity was detected at Hekla for ~4 days. No obvious signs of an imminent eruption were reported. Nevertheless, the 'uncertainty phase' warning level was kept in effect and the Aviation Colour Code remained Yellow. For the last few days of March 2013, no new activity was reported.

April 2013. For the first three days of April, Hekla remained quiet, but the 'uncertainty phase' warning level remained in effect. On 4 April, the IMO changed the Aviation Colour Code from Yellow to Green. No changes in gas or heat were observed at Hekla's summit and no crustal movement was detected. Due to the low activity, the 'uncertainty phase' warning level was removed.

Hekla continued to be quiet until 26 April, when an M 1.1 earthquake occurred in the same area as the earthquakes in March. No other activity was reported at Hekla for the rest of April.

References. Aviation Colour Code map, Icelandic Meteorological Office, date accessed 17 March 2015, (URL: http://en.vedur.is/weather/aviation/volcanic-hazards/ )

Gudmundsson, A., Oskarsson, N., Grönvold, K., Saemundsson, K., Sigurdsson, O., Stefansson, R., Gislason, S., Einarsson, P., Brandsdottir, B., Larsen, G., Johannesson, H., and Thordarson, T., 1992, The 1991 eruption of Hekla, Iceland, Bulletin of Volcanology, v54, pp 238-246, date accessed 16 March 2015 (URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00278391 )

Hekla volcano 2013-daily reports, Trip to Iceland, 27 March 2013, date accessed March 17, 2015, (URL: http://www.trip-to-iceland.com/culture/hekla-volcano-2013-daily-reports/ )

Höskuldsson, Á., Óskarsson N., Pedersen, R., Grönvold, K., Vogfjörð, K., and Ólafsdóttir, R., 2007, The Millennium Eruption of Hekla in February 2000. Bulletin of Volcanology, v70 (2), pp 169-82, DOI 10.1007/s00445-007-0128-3, data accessed 16 March 2015 (URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-007-0128-3# )

Seismic activity in Mount Hekla, Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV), 26 March 2013, date accessed 17 March 2015, (URL: http://www.ruv.is/frett/seismic-activity-in-mount-hekla)

Soosalu, H. and Einarsson P., 2001, Earthquake Activity Related to the 1991 Eruption of the Hekla Volcano, Iceland, Bulletin of Volcanology, v63(8), pp 536-544, DOI 10.1007/s00445-001-0177-y, date accessed 16 March 2015 (URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-001-0177-y# )

Soosalu, H., Einarsson, P., and Jakobsdóttir, S., 2003, Volcanic tremor related to the 1991 eruption of the Hekla volcano, Iceland, Bulletin of Volcanology, v65, pp 562-577, DOI 10.1007/s00445-003-0285-y, date accessed 16 Mar 2015 (URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-003-0285-y#page-1)

Soosalu, H., Einarsson P., and Þorbjarnardóttir, B. S., 2005, Seismic Activity related to the 2000 Eruption of the Hekla Volcano, Iceland, Bulletin of Volcanology, v68(1), pp21-36, DOI 10.1007/s00445-005-0417-7, date accessed 16 March 2015 (URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-005-0417-7)

Information Contacts: Icelandic Meteorological Office, Bustadavegur 7-9, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland (URL: http://en.vedur.is/); National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (NCIP), Civil Protection and Emergency Management Department, Skúlagata 21, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland (URL: http://www.almannavarnir.is/displayer.asp?cat_id=133); and Sigrún Hreinsdóttir, GNS Science, PO Box 30368 1 Fairway Drive, Lower Hutt, 5010 New Zealand (URL: http://www.gns.cri.nz/).

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.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 65 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

2000 Feb 26 - 2000 Mar 8 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption SW flank
2000 Feb 26 - 2000 Mar 8 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 9 Events for Episode 1 at SW flank

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (tremor)
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Eruption cloud
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow weak or small
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) Before.
2000 Feb 26    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1991 Jan 17 - 1991 Mar 11 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Summit, SW, SE & NE flank fissures
1991 Jan 17 - 1991 Mar 11 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 9 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, SW, SE & NE flank fissures

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (tremor) Before eruption.
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (tremor)
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Eruption cloud
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) Before.
   - - - -    - - - - Deformation (inflation)
   - - - -    - - - - Deformation (deflation)
1991 Jan 17    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1981 Apr 9 - 1981 Apr 16 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Summit and north flank (900 and 740 m)
1981 Apr 9 - 1981 Apr 16 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 7 Events for Episode 1 at Summit and north flank (900 and 740 m)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (tremor) Before eruption.
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (tremor)
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow violent, strong, or large
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Deformation (inflation)
1981 Apr 9    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1980 Aug 17 - 1980 Aug 20 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Summit, SW and NE flanks
1980 Aug 17 - 1980 Aug 20 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 14 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, SW and NE flanks

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (tremor)
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion violent, strong, or large
   - - - -    - - - - Eruption cloud
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow violent, strong, or large
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) Before.
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Deformation (inflation)
   - - - -    - - - - Deformation (deflation)
   - - - -    - - - - Fauna Kill Terrestrial.
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1980 Aug 17    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1970 May 5 - 1970 Jul 5 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Sudurgigar, Hlidargigar, Oldugigar
1970 May 5 - 1970 Jul 5 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 16 Events for Episode 1 at Sudurgigar, Hlidargigar, Oldugigar

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Eruption cloud
   - - - -    - - - - Lava fountains
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) Before.
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Deformation (inflation)
   - - - -    - - - - Deformation (deflation)
   - - - -    - - - - Fauna Kill Terrestrial.
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1970 May 5    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1947 Mar 29 - 1948 Apr 21 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption Hraungigur, Axlargigur, Toppgigur
1947 Mar 29 - 1948 Apr 21 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 19 Events for Episode 1 at Hraungigur, Axlargigur, Toppgigur

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (volcanic) Before eruption.
   - - - -    - - - - Seismicity (volcanic)
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Eruption cloud
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava fountains
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Bombs
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
   - - - -    - - - - Lightning
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1947 Mar 29    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
1947 Nov 2    - - - - Fatalities

1913 Apr 25 - 1913 May 18 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption E & NE of Hekla (Mundafit, Lambafit)
1913 Apr 25 - 1913 May 18 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at E & NE of Hekla (Mundafit, Lambafit)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
1913 Apr 25    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1878 Feb 27 - 1878 Apr Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption East of Hekla (Krakagigar)
1878 Feb 27 - 1878 Apr Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at East of Hekla (Krakagigar)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
1878 Feb 27    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1845 Sep 2 - 1846 Apr 5 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption Summit, SW and NE flanks
1845 Sep 2 - 1846 Apr 5 (?) Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 15 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, SW and NE flanks

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Eruption cloud
   - - - -    - - - - Lava fountains
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
   - - - -    - - - - Lightning
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) After.
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Fauna Kill Terrestrial.
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1845 Sep 2    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1766 Apr 5 - 1768 May Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption Bjallagigar
1766 Apr 5 - 1768 May Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 14 Events for Episode 1 at Bjallagigar

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Eruption cloud
   - - - -    - - - - Lava fountains
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Fauna Kill Aquatic.
   - - - -    - - - - Fauna Kill Terrestrial.
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1766 Apr 5    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1725 Apr 2 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption SW, south and east of Hekla
1725 Apr 2 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at SW, south and east of Hekla

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion weak or small
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
1725 Apr 2    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1693 Feb 13 - 1693 Sep 14 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption
1693 Feb 13 - 1693 Sep 14 (?) Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 13 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Bombs
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Tsunami
   - - - -    - - - - Fauna Kill Aquatic.
   - - - -    - - - - Fauna Kill Terrestrial.
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1693 Feb 13    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1636 May 8 - 1637 Jun Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption
1636 May 8 - 1637 Jun Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 7 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Fauna Kill Terrestrial.
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1636 May 8    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1597 Jan 3 - 1597 Jun (in or after) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption
1597 Jan 3 - 1597 Jun (in or after) Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 7 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1597 Jan 3    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1554 May - 1554 Jun (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption SW of Hekla (Raudubjallar)
1554 May - 1554 Jun (?) Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at SW of Hekla (Raudubjallar)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava fountains
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
1554 May    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1510 Jul 25 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption
1510 Jul 25 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 9 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Bombs
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1510 Jul 25    - - - - Fatalities
1510 Jul 25    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1440 (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption SE of Hekla
1440 (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at SE of Hekla

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage

1389 Dec 1 ± 30 days - 1390 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Summit ridge, west flank (Raudoldur)
1389 Dec 1 ± 30 days - 1390 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at Summit ridge, west flank (Raudoldur)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1389 Dec 1 ± 30 days    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1341 May 19 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption
1341 May 19 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Fauna Kill Terrestrial.
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1341 May 19    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1300 Jul 11 - 1301 Jul Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption
1300 Jul 11 - 1301 Jul Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 7 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1300 Jul 11    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
1301 Feb
(?)
   - - - - Fatalities

1222 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption
1222 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1222    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1206 Dec 4 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption
1206 Dec 4 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1206 Dec 4    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1158 Jan 19 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption
1158 Jan 19 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1158 Jan 19    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1104 Oct 15 ± 45 days Confirmed Eruption VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption H1 tephra
1104 Oct 15 ± 45 days - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at H1 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra extremely violent or catastrophic
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1104 Oct 15 ± 45 days    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
1510 Oct 15 ± 45 days    - - - - Fatalities

1050 ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Austurhraun
1050 ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Austurhraun

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

0800 ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Heklutaglahraun
0800 ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Heklutaglahraun

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

0750 (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Taglgigahraun, Solvahraun, Stakahraun
0750 (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Taglgigahraun, Solvahraun, Stakahraun

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

0650 ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption NE flank (Helliskvislarhraun)
0650 ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at NE flank (Helliskvislarhraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

0550 ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption
0550 ± 1500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

0350 ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll (Eskihlidarhraun)
0350 ± 1500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll (Eskihlidarhraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

0250 ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption NE flank (Hestolduhraun), Vatnafjöll
0250 ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at NE flank (Hestolduhraun), Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

0150 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll (Kringluhraun)
0150 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll (Kringluhraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

0250 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption NE flank, Vatnafjöll (Langviuhraun)
0250 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at NE flank, Vatnafjöll (Langviuhraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

0650 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll (Svalaskardshraun)
0650 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll (Svalaskardshraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

0750 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption NE flank, Vatnafjöll (Langviuhraun)
0750 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at NE flank, Vatnafjöll (Langviuhraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

0850 BCE ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption NE flank (Raudkembingahraun), Vatnafjöll
0850 BCE ± 1500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at NE flank (Raudkembingahraun), Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

1100 BCE ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption H3 tephra
1100 BCE ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at H3 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
1100 BCE ± 50 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1150 BCE ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll (Hraunhalsshraun)
1150 BCE ± 1500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll (Hraunhalsshraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

1250 BCE ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption NE flank, Vatnafjöll
1250 BCE ± 1500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at NE flank, Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

1350 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll
1350 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

1550 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption Seslund pumice
1550 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at Seslund pumice

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
1550 BCE
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1650 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll
1650 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

1750 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption
1750 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

1850 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption NE flank (Krokagilsoduhraun), Vatnafjöll
1850 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at NE flank (Krokagilsoduhraun), Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

2310 BCE ± 20 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption H4 tephra
2310 BCE ± 20 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at H4 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
2310 BCE ± 20 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

2450 BCE ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll (Reynnisfellshraun)
2450 BCE ± 1500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll (Reynnisfellshraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

2750 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll
2750 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

2950 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll (Tröllaskógahraun)
2950 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll (Tröllaskógahraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

3350 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Raudkollar, Vatnafjöll (Grafellshraun)
3350 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Raudkollar, Vatnafjöll (Grafellshraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

3450 BCE ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll
3450 BCE ± 1500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

3750 BCE ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll
3750 BCE ± 1500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

3950 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Axarhraun, Vatnafjöll
3950 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Axarhraun, Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

4050 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Baejarhraun
4050 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Baejarhraun

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

4110 BCE ± 100 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 5 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Hekla Ö tephra
4110 BCE ± 100 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Hekla Ö tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
4110 BCE ± 100 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

4150 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll (Grasleysisfjallahraun)
4150 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll (Grasleysisfjallahraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone

4250 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Knafaholdahraun
4250 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Knafaholdahraun

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

4350 BCE ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll (Lambadalshraun)
4350 BCE ± 1500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll (Lambadalshraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone

4550 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Krokahraun, Vatnafjöll
4550 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Krokahraun, Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

4650 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Gunnarsholtshraun
4650 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Gunnarsholtshraun

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

4700 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption Heka DH tephra
4700 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Heka DH tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
4700 BCE
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

4750 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll (west of Laufafell)
4750 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll (west of Laufafell)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

4950 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Vatnafjöll (Raudölduhraun)
4950 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Vatnafjöll (Raudölduhraun)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone

5050 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Reydarvatnshraun lava flow, Vatnafjöll
5050 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Reydarvatnshraun lava flow, Vatnafjöll

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow

5150 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption H5 tephra
5150 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at H5 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
5150 BCE
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

5850 BCE ± 2500 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Svinholdahraun
5850 BCE ± 2500 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Svinholdahraun

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
Deformation History

There is data available for 6 deformation periods. Expand each entry for additional details.


Deformation during 2000 - 2000 [Subsidence; Observed by InSAR, Tilt]

Start Date: 2000 Stop Date: 2000 Direction: Subsidence Method: InSAR, Tilt
Magnitude: Unknown Spatial Extent: Unknown Latitude: Unknown Longitude: Unknown

Remarks: Tilt and InSAR measurements show that Hekla subsided during the 2000 eruption.

Figure (see Caption)

LOS coeruptive displacements between 15 October 1999 and 16 June 2000 from descending track 52. A broad area around the volcano is characterized by displacement away from satellite, about 15?20 mm relative to the surroundings. The local deformation signal that straddles the summit is due to the formation of the 2000 eruptive fissure (black line on the summit) and is superimposed on widespread coeruptive LOS deflation.

From: Ofeigsson et al. 2011.


Reference List: Sturkell et al. 2006; Ofeigsson et al. 2011.

Full References:

Ofeigsson, B. G., A. Hooper, F. Sigmundsson, E. Sturkell, and R. Grapenthin, 2011. Deep magma storage at Hekla volcano, Iceland, revealed by InSAR time series analysis. J. Geophys. Res., 116, B05401. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JB007576

Sturkell, E., F. Sigmundsson, and R. Slunga,, 2006. 1983-2003 decaying rate of deflation at Askja caldera: Pressure decrease in an extensive magma plumbing system at a spreading plate boundary. Bull. Volc., 68, 727-735.

Deformation during 2000 - 2008 [Uplift; Observed by InSAR, Tilt]

Start Date: 2000 Stop Date: 2008 Direction: Uplift Method: InSAR, Tilt
Magnitude: Unknown Spatial Extent: Unknown Latitude: Unknown Longitude: Unknown

Remarks: Tilt and InSAR measurements show that Hekla uplifted following the 2000 eruption.

Figure (see Caption)

Mean LOS velocities after the 2000 eruption. Deformation associated with the 2000 eruption is not included. (c) Track 324, descending orbit covering the time interval after the 2000 eruption. The lines of colored dots correspond to the profiles shown in Figure 6. The black circles, aligned around the summit approximately where the highest LOS shortening is observed, are locations used in Figure 7. The deformation around Hekla is torus?like, with uplift rates peaking around 6 km from the summit and then decreasing toward the summit and becoming subsidence. A second center of subsidence is observed east of Hekla, at Torfajo?kull. A minus sign on the scale bar represents lengthening of LOS range.

From: Ofeigsson et al. 2011.


Reference List: Sturkell et al. 2006; Ofeigsson et al. 2011.

Full References:

Ofeigsson, B. G., A. Hooper, F. Sigmundsson, E. Sturkell, and R. Grapenthin, 2011. Deep magma storage at Hekla volcano, Iceland, revealed by InSAR time series analysis. J. Geophys. Res., 116, B05401. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JB007576

Sturkell, E., F. Sigmundsson, and R. Slunga,, 2006. 1983-2003 decaying rate of deflation at Askja caldera: Pressure decrease in an extensive magma plumbing system at a spreading plate boundary. Bull. Volc., 68, 727-735.

Deformation during 1993 - 2008 [Subsidence; Observed by InSAR]

Start Date: 1993 Stop Date: 2008 Direction: Subsidence Method: InSAR
Magnitude: Unknown Spatial Extent: Unknown Latitude: Unknown Longitude: Unknown

Remarks: Thermally contracting lava flows are subsiding.

Figure (see Caption)

Mean LOS velocity proximal to Hekla from ERS track 52 with outlines of recent lava flows. Dark green outlines the 1980 lava field, bright green outlines the 1981 lava field, and blue outlines the 1991 lava field. Some of the LOS lengthening correlates with the recent lava flows.

From: Ofeigsson et al. 2011.


Reference List: Ofeigsson et al. 2011.

Full References:

Ofeigsson, B. G., A. Hooper, F. Sigmundsson, E. Sturkell, and R. Grapenthin, 2011. Deep magma storage at Hekla volcano, Iceland, revealed by InSAR time series analysis. J. Geophys. Res., 116, B05401. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JB007576

Deformation during 1991 - 1991 [Subsidence; Observed by Tilt]

Start Date: 1991 Stop Date: 1991 Direction: Subsidence Method: Tilt
Magnitude: Unknown Spatial Extent: Unknown Latitude: Unknown Longitude: Unknown

Remarks: Tilt measurements show that Hekla subsided during the 1991 eruption.


Reference List: Sturkell et al. 2006.

Full References:

Sturkell, E., F. Sigmundsson, and R. Slunga,, 2006. 1983-2003 decaying rate of deflation at Askja caldera: Pressure decrease in an extensive magma plumbing system at a spreading plate boundary. Bull. Volc., 68, 727-735.

Deformation during 1991 - 2000 [Uplift; Observed by InSAR, Tilt]

Start Date: 1991 Stop Date: 2000 Direction: Uplift Method: InSAR, Tilt
Magnitude: Unknown Spatial Extent: Unknown Latitude: Unknown Longitude: Unknown

Remarks: Tilt and InSAR measurements show that Hekla uplifted following the 1991 eruption.

Figure (see Caption)

Mean LOS velocities before the 2000 eruption. Deformation associated with the 2000 eruption is not included. (a) Track 52, descending orbit. (b) Track 359, ascending orbit. The lines of colored dots correspond to the profiles shown in Figure 6. The black circles, aligned around the summit approximately where the highest LOS shortening is observed, are locations used in Figure 7. The deformation around Hekla is torus?like, with uplift rates peaking around 6 km from the summit and then decreasing toward the summit and becoming subsidence. A second center of subsidence is observed east of Hekla, at Torfajo?kull. A minus sign on the scale bar represents lengthening of LOS range.

From: Ofeigsson et al. 2011.


Reference List: Sturkell et al. 2006; Ofeigsson et al. 2011.

Full References:

Ofeigsson, B. G., A. Hooper, F. Sigmundsson, E. Sturkell, and R. Grapenthin, 2011. Deep magma storage at Hekla volcano, Iceland, revealed by InSAR time series analysis. J. Geophys. Res., 116, B05401. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JB007576

Sturkell, E., F. Sigmundsson, and R. Slunga,, 2006. 1983-2003 decaying rate of deflation at Askja caldera: Pressure decrease in an extensive magma plumbing system at a spreading plate boundary. Bull. Volc., 68, 727-735.

Deformation during 1985 - 1991 [Uplift; Observed by Tilt]

Start Date: 1985 Stop Date: 1991 Direction: Uplift Method: Tilt
Magnitude: Unknown Spatial Extent: Unknown Latitude: Unknown Longitude: Unknown

Remarks: Tilt measurements show that Hekla uplifted prior to the 1991 eruption.


Reference List: Sturkell et al. 2006.

Full References:

Sturkell, E., F. Sigmundsson, and R. Slunga,, 2006. 1983-2003 decaying rate of deflation at Askja caldera: Pressure decrease in an extensive magma plumbing system at a spreading plate boundary. Bull. Volc., 68, 727-735.

Emission History

There is data available for 4 emission periods. Expand each entry for additional details.


Emissions during 2000 Feb 26 - 2000 Feb 26 [183 kt SO2 at 11 km altitude]

Start Date: 2000 Feb 26 Stop Date: 2000 Feb 26 Method: Satellite (Earth Probe TOMS)
SO2 Altitude Min: 11 km SO2 Altitude Max: 11 km Total SO2 Mass: 183 kt

Data Details

Date Start Date End Assumed SO2 Altitude SO2 Algorithm SO2 Mass
20000226 11.0 183.000

Emissions during 1991 Jan 20 - 1991 Jan 20 [230 kt SO2 at 7 km altitude]

Start Date: 1991 Jan 20 Stop Date: 1991 Jan 20 Method: Satellite (Nimbus-7 TOMS)
SO2 Altitude Min: 7 km SO2 Altitude Max: 7 km Total SO2 Mass: 230 kt

Data Details

Date Start Date End Assumed SO2 Altitude SO2 Algorithm SO2 Mass
19910120 6.5 230.000

Emissions during 1981 Apr 09 - 1981 Apr 09 [10 kt SO2 at 7 km altitude]

Start Date: 1981 Apr 09 Stop Date: 1981 Apr 09 Method: Satellite (Nimbus-7 TOMS)
SO2 Altitude Min: 7 km SO2 Altitude Max: 7 km Total SO2 Mass: 10 kt

Data Details

Date Start Date End Assumed SO2 Altitude SO2 Algorithm SO2 Mass
19810409 7.0 10.000

Emissions during 1980 Aug 18 - 1980 Aug 18 [460 kt SO2 at 15 km altitude]

Start Date: 1980 Aug 18 Stop Date: 1980 Aug 18 Method: Satellite (Nimbus-7 TOMS)
SO2 Altitude Min: 15 km SO2 Altitude Max: 15 km Total SO2 Mass: 460 kt

Data Details

Date Start Date End Assumed SO2 Altitude SO2 Algorithm SO2 Mass
19800818 15.0 460.000
Photo Gallery

Axlargigur, at the SW end of Hekla's summit ridge, was one of the principal vents during a major eruption in 1947. The initial plinian phase of the eruption began on March 29, 1947, and produced a towering ash column that reached a height of 30 km. Tephra fall occurred primarily to the south, and ashfall reached the Finnish-Russian border. Lava flows from a 5-km-long fissure along the summit ridge covered 40 km2, primarily on the eastern, southern, and western sides of the volcano.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft.
The 1845 eruption of Hekla volcano is depicted in this sketch as seen from Selsund, SW of the volcano. Tephra from the eruption, which began on September 2, was carried to the ESE. Locally, the fluorine-rich ashfall took a large toll on livestock, and fine ash fell as far away as the Faroe, Shetland, and Orkney islands. Lava flows covered about 25 km2 and moved mainly to the west and NW. The eruption lasted for seven months.

From the collection of Maurice and Katia Krafft.
Strombolian eruptions from two vents on a fissure on the northern flank of Hekla volcano in May 1970. Three areas were active in 1970, producing lava flows to the N, W and SW. The Oldugigar vent (erupting in the foreground) and the nearby Hlidagigar vent were the source of the most voluminous lava flows of the 1970 eruption. The lava flows traveled 6 km N over uninhabited land.

Photo by Robert Citron, 1970 (Smithsonian Institution; courtesy of William Melson)
On 5 May 1970 fissures opened on the SSW, W, and NNE flanks of Hekla. An eruption plume reached nearly 16 km high, and fountaining fed lava flows to the SW, WNW, and N. Two eruptive fissures were active on the NE flank, seen here with minor Strombolian activity; these produced lava flows that traveled 6 km N. The N-flank lava flow remained active until 5 July.

Photo by Robert Citron, 1970 (Smithsonian Institution; courtesy of William Melson)
Incandescent bombs are ejected from the Oldugigar vent on the NNE flank of Hekla volcano during Strombolian activity in May 1970. This eruption began with vigorous explosive activity and was followed by effusion of lava flows that traveled to the SW, WNW, and N. The eruption lasted until July 1970.

Photo by Robert Citron, 1970 (Smithsonian Institution; courtesy of William Melson)
The Hekla edifice, seen here from the east, is elongated due to repeated eruptions along an ENE-WSW fissure that runs across the edifice. Numerous eruptions are recorded throughout the Holocene, both along this summit fissure system and from vents and fissures on the flanks.

Photo by Robert Citron, 1970 (Smithsonian Institution; courtesy of William Melson)
An eruption column is seen rising above a cloud layer over Hekla volcano on 17 August 1980. The eruption began with a Plinian phase producing this 15-km-high eruption column. Lava flows were simultaneously produced along the fissure that runs along the Hekla edifice. During the next three days, lava flows issued from nearly the full length of the fissure and produced six flows, primarily on the northern side of the summit ridge. One lava flow travelled about 8 km to the SW.

Photo courtesy of Gudmundar Sigvaldason (Nordic Volcanological Institute), 1980.
A volcanologist can be seen (bottom left) observing the incandescent front of a steaming, blocky lava flow that is advancing from Hekla volcano during a three-day eruption beginning on 17 August 1980. Lava issued from much of the 5.5-km-long fissure that runs along Hekla’s summit ridge, producing lava flows that covered much of the northern flanks and flows to the E, S, and SW.

Photo courtesy of Gudmundar Sigvaldason (Nordic Volcanological Institute), 1980.
The elongated summit ridge of Hekla volcano is seen here from the west with a recent lava flow in the foreground. The 5.5-km-long Heklugja fissure cuts across the volcano and is often active along its full length during major eruptions. Repeated eruptions along this rift are responsible for Hekla's elongated ENE-WSW profile.

Photo courtesy of Jules Friedman (U.S. Geological Survey).
Snow-covered Hekla, one of Iceland's most prominent and active volcanoes, is seen here in an aerial view from the east. Toppgigur crater occupies the summit, in the middle of the ridge, and Axlargigur crater is seen here as a small peak along the summit ridge to the left (W). Repeated eruptions along an ENE-WSW-trending rift are responsible for Hekla's elongated profile. The 5.5-km-long Heklugja fissure cuts across the volcano. Lava flows from eruptions dating back to 1104 CE cover much of the volcano's flanks and are seen here fanning out from the ridge in all directions.

Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1977 (Icelandic National Energy Authority).
Hekla has a conical profile when viewed from the SW, looking directly down the axis of the elongated volcano. Axlargigur, the WSW end of the 5.5-km-long Heklugja fissure that crosses the summit, extends toward the photographer. This fissure was active along its entire length during the 1970 eruption.

Photo by Bill Rose, 1980 (Michigan Technological University).
Icelandic volcanologist Sigurdur Thorarinsson (right center, with red cap) discusses ash layers exposed in an excavated pit with an international group of volcanologists on a field trip. Thorarinsson pioneered the technique of tephrochronology, and his detailed studies of tephra layers from Hekla demonstrated the value in determining the relative ages of ash layers by their stratigraphic position between dated horizons.

Photo by Bill Rose, 1980 (Michigan Technological University).
Twilight colors shade the snow-capped slopes of Hekla, one of Iceland's most active volcanoes. Hekla's elongated profile is apparent in this view from the north of the 5.5-km-long summit ridge. The Heklugjá fissure which runs along the length of the ridge has been the site of numerous historical eruptions and is often active along its full length.

Photo by Bill Rose, 1980 (Michigan Technological University).
The Vatnafjöll volcanic system, seen as the rugged landscape cutting across the center of the image, is a 60-km-long, 9-km-wide chain of alkali basaltic fissures and crater rows located south of the more prominent Hekla volcano (center horizon). The elongate profile of Hekla is due to the presence of an elongate eruptive fissure parallel with the ridge, which has been the site of numerous Holocene eruptions. The Vatnafjöll fissure swarm is less frequently active than the Hekla edifice, but they are considered as part of the same volcanic system. About 50 Holocene lava flows are identified from the Vatnafjöll fissures, most recently about 1,200 years ago.

Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1977 (Icelandic National Energy Authority).
GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 58 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number Sample Description Lava Source Collection Date
NMNH 112021 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112022 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112023 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112024 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112025 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112026 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112027 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112028 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112029 Pumice -- --
NMNH 112030 Scoriaceous Volcanic Bomb -- --
NMNH 112031 Basalt -- --
NMNH 112032 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112033 Pumice -- --
NMNH 112034 Pumice -- --
NMNH 112035 Pumice -- --
NMNH 112036 Pumice -- --
NMNH 112037 Pumice -- --
NMNH 112038 Scoria -- --
NMNH 112039 Scoria -- --
NMNH 112040 Scoria -- --
NMNH 112041 Basalt -- --
NMNH 112042 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112043 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112044 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112045 Acidic Pumice -- --
NMNH 112046 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 112048-1 Basalt -- --
NMNH 112049-2 Basalt -- --
NMNH 112050 Basaltic Scoria -- --
NMNH 112051 Basalt -- --
NMNH 112052 Basaltic Volcanic Bomb -- --
NMNH 112053 Welded Tuff -- --
NMNH 112054 Gabbro -- --
NMNH 112055 Scoria -- --
NMNH 112056 Palagonite -- --
NMNH 112057 Basalt -- --
NMNH 112059 Basalt -- --
NMNH 112060 Scoriaceous Volcanic Bomb -- --
NMNH 116691-11 Basalt -- --
NMNH 117676-1 Basalt -- --
NMNH 117676-10 Sand -- --
NMNH 117676-11 Sulfur -- --
NMNH 117676-12 Calcite -- --
NMNH 117676-13 Quartz -- --
NMNH 117676-14 Scolecite -- --
NMNH 117676-15 Scolecite -- --
NMNH 117676-16 Basaltic Andesite Lapilli -- --
NMNH 117676-17 Glacial Soil -- --
NMNH 117676-2 Basalt Near Oldugigar vent --
NMNH 117676-3 Basalt Oldugigar Vent --
NMNH 117676-4 Basalt Oldugigar Vent --
NMNH 117676-5 Basalt -- --
NMNH 117676-6 Basalt -- --
NMNH 117676-7 Scoria -- --
NMNH 117676-8 Obsidian -- --
NMNH 117676-9 Scoria -- --
NMNH 73259 Obsidian -- --
NMNH 90563 Volcanic Dust -- --
External Sites