Geology

New study confirms monster volcano Katla is charging up for an eruption

By Staff

An ice cauldron in Mýrdalsjökull Geothermal activity in the volcano's caldera melts the glacier, creating cauldrons in the ice. Photo/Fréttablaðið

The 1918 eruption Katla erupts once every 40-80 years. Its last eruption was in 1918, making it 20-40 years overdue for an eruption.

Katla, a giant volcano hidden beneath the ice cap of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, is busy filling its magma chambers, new research confirms. An eruption in Katla would dwarf the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, scientists have warned. The volcano is long "overdue" for an eruption, as it has historically erupted once every 40-80 years. The last known eruption in Katla was in 1918.

Read more: Katla: Iceland's most notorious volcano is kept under close surveillance

A group of Icelandic and British geologists have recently finished a research mission studying gas emissions from the volcano. The studies showed that Katla is emitting enormous quantities of CO2. The volcano releases at least 20 kilotons of C02 every day. Only two volcanoes worldwide are known to emit more CO2, Evgenia Ilyinskaya a volcanologist wit with the University of Leeds told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV.

Update Friday Sept 21: We don't know one way or another if Katla is preparing to erupt, geophysicist argues

These enormous CO2 emissions confirm significant activity in the volcano, Evgenia told RÚV: "It is highly unlikely that these emissions could be produced by geothermal activity. There must also be a magma build up to release this quantity of gas."

She points out that more studies are needed to determine if the gas emissions from Katla are stable, or if they are increasing. "It is well known from other volcanoes, for example in Hawaii and Alaska, that CO2 emissions increase weeks or years ahead of eruptions. This is a clear sign we need to keep a close eye on Katla. She isn't just doing nothing, and these findings confirm that there is something going on."

Read more: Authorities worry it will be impossible to warn travellers in time in case of Katla eruption

The scientists also detected significant quantities of methane and hydrogen sulfite. These gases can be present in dangerously high quantities where the rivers Emstruá and Múlakvísl emerge from beneath the glacier. People should show extreme caution when exploring ice caves in Mýrdalsjökull.