Eyjafjallajökull erupted in 2010, affecting millions of people. Credit: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
Iceland's Met Office has raised Bardarbunga's eruption risk level to orange. This means that a volcanic eruption is possible, and is the fourth highest risk level. The fifth and final level, color-coded red, would indicate that an eruption is imminent, or that it had occurred. Also spelled Bárðarbunga, the volcano is larger than Eyjafjallajökull, a small ice cap, which erupted in 2010 causing chaos to the aviation industry. Flight operators have been notified of the increased risk of disruption to services.
The Met Office stated on their website that "This is the strongest earthquake measured in the region since 1996. As evidence of magma movement shallower than 10 km implies increased potential of a volcanic eruption, the Bárðarbunga aviation color code has been changed to orange."
Earthquake activity in the vicinity began on August 16th and has been ongoing since then, with 1155 earthquakes recorded in this time, the largest being a magnitude-4 quake that hit August 18th.
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| Iceland's recent seismic activity. Credit: Iceland Met Office |
What could an eruption of Bardarbunga hold? There may be a repeat of events similar to those of 2011 when Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted. They may include:
- Shut down of European flights
- Passengers left stranded
- Airlines losing millions in lost revenue
If the eruption does occur and it is bigger than the 2011 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, the amount of airborne ash and other particulates could have a major impact on climate and agriculture across the northern hemisphere, dropping temperatures and reducing sunlight.
Dave McGarvie, a volcanologist from the Open University in Scotland, remained positive, however, and said in a statement: "The clues from the pattern of earthquakes show that seismic energy is being expended in two main clusters — one to the northeast on the glacier margin, and one to the east under the ice.
"The good news for air travel is that both these clusters are away from the heart of the main volcano, as it's in the heart that the kind of magma is produced which leads to highly explosive eruptions that produce the abundant fine ash capable of being transported long distances through the atmosphere."
