The Eruption: Latest Facts

The Scientific Advisory Board of the Icelandic Civil Protection just released new facts about what exactly is going on in Holuhraun. Here's everything you need to know about the eruption at this time: 

• During the last week the eruption continues at a similar intensity and with similar lava flow.
• Around 130 earthquakes have been measured in Bardarbunga over the last 24 hours, which is an increase of what has been the norm over the last two weeks.  
• The GPS station in the centre of Bardarbunga is back on-line. The subsidence of the caldera continues with similar rate as before, which is 30-40 cm per day. The subsidence is mainly in the northeast part of the caldera. The subsidence of the caldera is estimated to be 0,75 km3. 
• 13 earthquakes greater than M3.0 were recorded over the last 48 hours in or around the caldera. The largest one were M4.8 at 18:51 yesterday.
• Little seismic activity is now detected in the northern part of the dyke and around the eruption site.
• GPS measurements show minor movements. No great changes were detected.
• No change was detected in water monitoring that cannot be explained by changing weather.

 Air quality:

• The gas pollution that has been hovering over the country as well as the gas erupted yesterday will move slowly towards the west. The eastern part of Iceland will therefore be pollution free in the afternoon, but in most other parts of Iceland, pollution can be expected, and air quality can be poor in places. On Thursday,  stronger easterly winds are expected. The gas from the eruption site will move towards west and northwest and can affect the following regions: Skagafjörður, Húnaflói, Vestfirðir, Breiðafjörður, Faxaflói. A map showing the gas forecast can be found on the web page of the Icelandic Met Office www.vedur.is/vedur/spar/textaspar/oskufok/ An interactive map showing the gas distribution can be seen at www.vedur.is/vedur/spar/gasdreifing