Öræfajökull

Öræfajökull (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈœːrˌaiːvaˌjœːkʏtl̥]; 'Öræfi glacier' or 'wasteland glacier') is an ice-covered volcano in south-east Iceland. The largest active volcano and the highest peak in Iceland at 2,110 metres (6,920 ft), it lies within the Vatnajökull National Park and is covered by part of the glacier.

Öræfajökull
View of Öræfajökull, showing its broad shape.
Highest point
Elevation2,109.6 metres (6,921 ft) at Hvannadalshnúkur[1]
Prominence2,109.6 metres (6,921 ft) at Hvannadalshnúkur
Coordinates64°00′N 16°39′W
Geography
LocationIceland
Parent rangeMid-Atlantic Ridge
Geology
Age of rockPleistocene
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Last eruption1727 to 1728
Hvannadalshnúkur, the highest peak of Öræfajökull.

The original Norse settlers named the volcano Knappafellsjǫkull (Old Norse: [ˈknɑpːɑˌfelːsˌjɔkolː]; Modern Icelandic: Hnappafellsjökull [ˈn̥ahpaˌfɛlsˌjœːkʏtl̥]; 'knobs mountain glacier').[2] The current name, Öræfajökull, was eventually adopted after the 1362 eruption.

Description

Öræfajökull is located at the southern extremity of the Vatnajökull glacier and overlooking the Ring Road between Höfn and Vík. It is the largest active volcano in the country, and on the summit crater's northwestern rim is Hvannadalshnúkur, the highest peak in Iceland at 2,110 metres (6,920 ft). Geographically, Öræfajökull is considered part of Vatnajökull, and the area covered by glacier is within the boundary of Vatnajökull National Park.

Activity

Öræfajökull has erupted twice in historical times, in 1362 and 1728.

1362 eruption

In 1362, Knappafellsjökull erupted explosively, ejecting 10 cubic kilometres of tephra,[3] similar in scale to the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo.[2] The wealthy district of Litlahérað was destroyed by floods, pyroclastic flows and ashfall.[3] Sailors reported pumice “in such masses that ships could hardly make their way through it.” Thick volcanic deposits obliterated farmland, and ash travelled as far as western Europe. More than 40 years passed before people again settled the area, which became known as Öræfi. The name literally means 'an area without harbour,' but it took on a meaning of 'wasteland' in Icelandic, as the 1362 eruption had drastically altered the environment around the mountain.[4] The volcano likewise took on the new name Öræfajökull.

1728 eruption

An eruption in August 1727–1728 was smaller than 1362, though floods are known to have caused three fatalities when the meltwater swept their farm away.[4]

1899 map of Öræfajökull from a noutical chart

2017 activity

Increased earthquake activity in the form of small tremors ranging from a depth of 1.5–10 km beneath the summit crater, began in August 2017 according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

The Aviation Colour Code of the United States was raised to yellow on 17 November 2017, after the appearance of an ice cauldron inside the main crater and increased geothermal activity under the glacier.[5]

2018 activity

The seismic and geothermal activity which began in August 2017 continued into 2018, but at reduced levels. On 4 May 2018, the Icelandic Meteorological Office lowered the Aviation Colour Code to green. [6]

See also

References
  1. "Hvannadalshnukur". Summitpost.com. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  2. "History of Öræfajökull | VolcanoCafe".
  3. "About Öræfajökull | Vatnajokull National Park".
  4. Ravilious, Kate (December 3, 2017). "Terrawatch: the reawakening of Öræfajökull" – via www.theguardian.com.
  5. "A new ice-cauldron in Öræfajökull volcano | News". Icelandic Meteorological office.
  6. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Activity Archives for Öræfajökull, Retrieved Aug. 26, 2021.
Road to Öræfajökull, approaching from the west, November 2007. Two spur glaciers can be seen: Skaftafellsjökull (left) and Svínafellsjökull (right).
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