Global Volcanism Program

Most Recent Weekly Report: 14 August-20 August 2013 Cite this Report

On 15 August park rangers noted unusually high water in the Volgu River, which originates from a water-filled depression called Gengissig in a geothermal area of Kverkfjöll; the high water destroyed a walking bridge. The next day an overflight of the area by members of National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (NCIP), the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), and the Institute of Earth Sciences revealed that Gengissig was empty and that a phreatic explosion had deposited streaks of dark material on the rock and snow.

Source: National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (NCIP) Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management

Weekly Reports - Index

2013: August

14 August-20 August 2013 Cite this Report

On 15 August park rangers noted unusually high water in the Volgu River, which originates from a water-filled depression called Gengissig in a geothermal area of Kverkfjöll; the high water destroyed a walking bridge. The next day an overflight of the area by members of National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (NCIP), the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), and the Institute of Earth Sciences revealed that Gengissig was empty and that a phreatic explosion had deposited streaks of dark material on the rock and snow.

Source: National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (NCIP) Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management

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

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

373050

1968 CE

1,930 m / 6,332 ft

64.653°N
16.647°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano
Caldera
Subglacial

Rock Types

Major
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
Oceanic crust (< 15 km)

Population

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

0
0
0
2,901

Geological Summary

Kverkfjöll is a large subglacial volcano at the NE end of the Vatnajökull icecap. Two elliptical ice-filled calderas, each about 8 x 5 km in size, have been identified. An associated fissure swarm can be traced 60 km to the NE. A half dozen ridges of subglacially erupted pillow lavas are now exposed and extend beyond the glacial icecap to the NE. Subglacial historical eruptions have been recorded since the mid-17th century. Several other historical eruptions once attributed to Kverkfjöll are now thought to have originated from Bárdarbunga volcano to the west.

References

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

Bjornsson H, Einarsson P, 1990. Volcanoes beneath Vatnajokull, Iceland: evidence from radio echo-sounding, earthquakes and jokulhlaups. Jokull, 40: 147-168.

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

Hoskuldsson A, Sparks R S J, Carroll M R, 2006. Constraints on the dynamics of subglacial basalt eruptions from geological and geochemical observations at Kverkfjoll, NE-Iceland. Bull Volcanol, 68: 689-701.

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

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

Montanaro C, Scheu B, Gudmundsson M T, Vogfjörd K, Reynolds H I, Dürig T, Strehlow K, Rott S, Reuschlé T, Dingwell D B, 2016. Multidisciplinary constraints of hydrothermal explosions based on the 2013 Gengissig lake events, Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 434: 308-319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.11.043

Sigbjarnarson G, 1988. Krepputunga and Bruardalir--Explanatory Text to Geologic Map. Reykjavik: Orkustofnun OS-88038/VOD-06, 44 p (in Icelandic with English summary).

Sigurdsson H, Sparks R S J, 1978. Rifting episode in North Iceland in 1874-1875 and the eruptions of Askja and Sveinagja. Bull Volcanol, 41: 149-167.

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

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

Eruptive History

There is data available for 8 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1968 May 23 - 1968 Jun 16 ± 15 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

1968 May 23 - 1968 Jun 16 ± 15 days

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1959 Jul 2 ± 182 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 \| Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)
1959 Jul 2 ± 182 days - Unknown				Evidence from Observations: Reported

1929 Jan - 1929 Feb Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Hveradalur area

1929 Jan - 1929 Feb

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Hveradalur area

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Tephra
1929 Jan	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1729 Aug Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

1729 Aug - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Jokulhaup
	1729 Aug	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1729 Feb 15 ± 45 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

1729 Feb 15 ± 45 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Jokulhaup
	1729 Feb 15 ± 45 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1655 Apr 15 ± 45 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

1655 Apr 15 ± 45 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Jokulhaup
	1655 Apr 15 ± 45 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

5000 BCE ± 1000 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Krepputunguhraun, Kverfjallahraun

5000 BCE ± 1000 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Krepputunguhraun, Kverfjallahraun

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

7050 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Arnadalsoldugjoska

7050 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Arnadalsoldugjoska

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain

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.

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Arnardalsoldugjoska Yngri

Crater Row

65° 10' 0.00" N

16° 5' 0.00" W

Kreppuhraun

Fissure vent

64° 46' 0.00" N

16° 22' 0.00" W

Krepputunguhraun

Fissure vent

64° 55' 0.00" N

17° 2' 0.00" W

Kverkfjallaranamyndun

Crater Row

64° 49' 0.00" N

16° 30' 0.00" W

Lindahraun

Fissure vent

64° 46' 0.00" N

16° 30' 0.00" W

Urdalshraun Eystri

Crater Row

64° 49' 0.00" N

17° 5' 0.00" W

Urdalshraun Vestari

Crater Row

64° 51' 0.00" N

17° 12' 0.00" W

Vestasti Urdarhalsgigur

Crater Row

64° 51' 0.00" N

17° 12' 0.00" W

Thermal

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Hveradalur

Thermal

Photo Gallery

Kverkfjöll, seen here from the north, is a subglacial volcano at the northern end of the Vatnajökull icecap, west of Bárdarbunga. The Dyngjujökull glacier, an outflow sheet of the Vatnajökull icecap, appears in the foreground during a 1977 glacial surge. The dark ridge on the left, seen here separated from the outflow sheet by a stream, is a lava flow from about 4,500 to 6,100 years ago.

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

The broad, relatively flat-topped and ice-covered summit of the Kverkfjöll volcano (upper right) is seen here from Snæfell mountain. This view looks WSW across the Bruarjökull glacier, an outflow sheet of the vast Vatnajökull icecap. Holocene lavas form the dark ridge extending across the horizon to the right from Kverkfjöll.

Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1978 (Icelandic National Energy Authority).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

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

External Sites

Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes (Link to Kverkfjöll)

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

Copernicus Browser

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

MIROVA

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

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

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

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

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

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

Volcanic Hazard Maps

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

IRIS seismic stations/networks

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

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

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

DECADE Data

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

Large Eruptions of Kverkfjöll

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

EarthChem

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