A glacial river flood to start in next couple of days in Skaftá river
mbl.is/RAX
Last night the Iceland Met Office observed signs that a glacial outburst flood is about to start in the Skaftá glacial river.
A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a type of outburst flood that occurs when the dam containing a glacial lake fails. An event similar to a GLOF, where a body of water contained by a glacier melts or overflows the glacier, is called a Jökulhlaup. The dam can consist of glacier ice or a terminal moraine.
The Iceland Met Office observed that the level of the Skaftá river at Sveinstindur has risen significantly. These observations suggest that a glacial outburst flood (jökulhlaup) is in progress. It is likely that the flood originates from the western Skaftá ice cauldron.
Scientists at the Met Office are currently meeting with the Iceland Civil Protection to assess the situation.
