Torfajökull News

 

The latest ground deformation measurements from June revealed an uplift of the volcano.
The central part of the caldera has been inflated by a few centimeters as visible in both InSAR and GPS data. This is presumably reflecting continued magma accumulation under the surface.
No significant seismic changes have occurred since the beginning of the uplift so far.
The Torfajökull central volcano, located north of Myrdalsjökull and south of Thorisvatn lake, consists of the largest area of silicic and intermediate volcanism in Iceland. During postglacial times only a narrow fissure zone at the western end has been active, producing mostly silicic lava flows, lava domes, and tephras. The most recent silicic eruption produced the Hrafntinnuhraun lava flow about 900 AD. The fissure system is along trend with and was active at the same time as the basaltic Veidivötn fissure system of Bárdarbunga central volcano in 1477 AD. The small Torfajökull icecap lies mostly outside the SE rim of the caldera, which is the site of vigorous thermal activity over a broad area of 130-140 sq km.
Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office volcano activity update 17 August 2023