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Maelifell

Katla

Fissure vent · Iceland · 1490m

Katla volcano, near the southern end of Iceland's Eastern Volcanic Zone, comprises a central volcano, a 100 km2 caldera beneath the Mýrdalsjökull icecap, plus fissure systems. Valley glaciers descend from the summit toward the coastal plain in this aerial view from the SSW. Katla has very frequent eruptions. Explosive eruptions from the central volcano produce large volumes of tephra and are frequently accompanied by damaging glacier-outburst floods called jökulhlaups. Effusive eruptions producing large volumes of lava are characteristic of the fissure system.
Katla volcano, near the southern end of Iceland's Eastern Volcanic Zone, comprises a central volcano, a 100 km2 caldera beneath the Mýrdalsjökull icecap, plus fissure systems. Valley glaciers descend from the summit toward the coastal plain in this aerial view from the SSW. Katla has very frequent eruptions. Explosive eruptions from the central volcano produce large volumes of tephra and are frequently accompanied by damaging glacier-outburst floods called jökulhlaups. Effusive eruptions producing large volumes of lava are characteristic of the fissure system. · Photo: Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1985 (Icelandic National Energy Authority). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Fissure vent
Country
Iceland
Region
Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions / Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
1490m
Coordinates
63.633, -19.083
Last eruption
1918
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Cluster
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

Katla volcano, located near the southern end of Iceland's eastern volcanic zone, is hidden beneath the Myrdalsjökull icecap. The subglacial basaltic-to-rhyolitic volcano is one of Iceland's most active and is a frequent producer of damaging jökulhlaups, or glacier-outburst floods. A large 10 x 14 km subglacial caldera with a long axis in a NW-SE direction is up to 750 m deep. Its high point reaches 1380 m, and three major outlet glaciers have breached its rim. Although most recorded eruptions have taken place from fissures inside the caldera, the Eldgjá fissure system, which extends about 60 km to the NE from the current ice margin towards Grímsvötn volcano, has been the source of major Holocene eruptions. An eruption from the Eldgjá fissure system about 934 CE produced a voluminous lava flow of about 18 km3, one of the world's largest known Holocene lava flows. Katla has been the source of frequent subglacial basaltic explosive eruptions that have been among the largest tephra-producers in Iceland during historical time and has also produced numerous dacitic explosive eruptions during the Holocene.

From Wikipedia

This summary is short — open the full article for more detail.

Mælifell is a volcano located in Southern Iceland.

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Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
6380 BCE~6101 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?6101 BCE~5821 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?5821 BCE~5542 BCE · 6 eruptions · max VEI ?5542 BCE~5263 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?5263 BCE~4983 BCE · 5 eruptions · max VEI ?4983 BCE~4704 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?4704 BCE~4425 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?4425 BCE~4146 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?4146 BCE~3866 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?3866 BCE~3587 BCE · 5 eruptions · max VEI ?3587 BCE~3308 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?3308 BCE~3028 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?3028 BCE~2749 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 32749 BCE~2470 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?2470 BCE~2190 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?2190 BCE~1911 BCE · 8 eruptions · max VEI 41911 BCE~1632 BCE · 5 eruptions · max VEI ?1632 BCE~1353 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 41353 BCE~1073 BCE · 5 eruptions · max VEI 31073 BCE~794 BCE · 4 eruptions · max VEI 4794 BCE~515 BCE · 8 eruptions · max VEI ?515 BCE~235 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?235 BCE~44 · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?44~323 · 5 eruptions · max VEI 3323~603 · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?603~882 · 4 eruptions · max VEI ?882~1161 · 6 eruptions · max VEI 41161~1440 · 8 eruptions · max VEI 51440~1720 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 51720~1999 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 56380 BCE4425 BCE2190 BCE235 BCE1720

Detailed timeline

  1. 1999VEI 0Geological estimate
    1999-07-17 – 1999-08-15
    W, S, and E margins of caldera
  2. 1955VEI 0Geological estimate
    1955-06-25 – Ongoing
    East side of caldera
  3. 1918VEI 4Observed
    1918-10-12 – 1918-11-04
    South side of caldera
  4. 1860VEI 4Observed
    1860-05-08 – 1860-05-27
  5. 1823VEI 3Observed
    1823-06-26 – 1823-07-23
    Arcuate fissure in south part of caldera
  6. 1755VEI 5Observed
    1755-10-17 – 1756-02-13
    E-W fissure in center of caldera
  7. 1721VEI 5Observed
    1721-05-11 – 1721-10-15
  8. 1660VEI 4Observed
    1660-11-03 – 1661
  9. 1625VEI 5Observed
    1625-09-02 – 1625-09-14
  10. 1612VEI 4Observed
    1612-10-12 – Ongoing
  11. 1580VEI 4Observed
    1580-08-11 – Ongoing
  12. 1550VEI 4Geological estimate
    1550 – Ongoing
  13. 1500VEI 4Geological estimate
    1500 – Ongoing
  14. 1450 (±50 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1450 – Ongoing
  15. 1440VEI 4Observed
    1440 – Ongoing
  16. 1416VEI 4Observed
    1416 – Ongoing
  17. 1357 (±3 yrs)VEI 4Observed
    1357 – Ongoing
    SW of Kotlugja
  18. 1311VEI ?Observed
    1311-01-18 – Ongoing
  19. 1262VEI 5Observed
    1262 – Ongoing
  20. 1245VEI 4Observed
    1245 – Ongoing
  21. 1210VEI 4Geological estimate
    1210 – Ongoing
  22. 1177 (±2 yrs)VEI 3Observed
    1177 – Ongoing
  23. 1150 (±50 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1150 – Ongoing
  24. 960VEI 3Geological estimate
    960 – Ongoing
  25. 950VEI ?Geological estimate
    950 – Ongoing
  26. 934 (±2 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    934 – 940
    Eldgjá fissure system (NE flank)
  27. 920VEI 4Observed
    920 – Ongoing
  28. 904VEI ?Geological estimate
    904 – Ongoing
  29. 820VEI ?Geological estimate
    820 – Ongoing
  30. 780VEI ?Geological estimate
    780 – Ongoing
  31. 680VEI ?Geological estimate
    680 – Ongoing
  32. 610VEI ?Geological estimate
    610 – Ongoing
  33. 590VEI ?Geological estimate
    590 – Ongoing
  34. 540VEI ?Geological estimate
    540 – Ongoing
  35. 500VEI ?Geological estimate
    500 – Ongoing
  36. 400VEI ?Geological estimate
    400 – Ongoing
  37. 290VEI ?Geological estimate
    290 – Ongoing
  38. 270 (±12 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    270 – Ongoing
  39. 260VEI ?Geological estimate
    260 – Ongoing
  40. 200VEI ?Geological estimate
    200 – Ongoing
  41. 130VEI ?Geological estimate
    130 – Ongoing
  42. 30VEI ?Geological estimate
    30 – Ongoing
  43. 80 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 80 – Ongoing
  44. 250 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 250 – Ongoing
  45. 370 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 370 – Ongoing
  46. 430 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 430 – Ongoing
  47. 530 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 530 – Ongoing
  48. 550 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 550 – Ongoing
  49. 560 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 560 – Ongoing
  50. 600 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 600 – Ongoing
  51. 650 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 650 – Ongoing
  52. 700 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 700 – Ongoing
  53. 740 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 740 – Ongoing
  54. 780 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 780 – Ongoing
  55. 850 BCE (±50 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    BCE 850 – Ongoing
  56. 860 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 860 – Ongoing
  57. 920 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 920 – Ongoing
  58. 990 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 990 – Ongoing
  59. 1160 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1160 – Ongoing
  60. 1190 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1190 – Ongoing
  61. 1220 BCE (±12 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    BCE 1220 – Ongoing
  62. 1280 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1280 – Ongoing
  63. 1290 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1290 – Ongoing
  64. 1440 BCE (±40 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    BCE 1440 – Ongoing
  65. 1540 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1540 – Ongoing
  66. 1640 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1640 – Ongoing
  67. 1670 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1670 – Ongoing
  68. 1700 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1700 – Ongoing
  69. 1850 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1850 – Ongoing
  70. 1910 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1910 – Ongoing
  71. 1920 BCEVEI 4Geological estimate
    BCE 1920 – Ongoing
  72. 1950 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1950 – Ongoing
  73. 2000 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2000 – Ongoing
  74. 2020 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2020 – Ongoing
  75. 2050 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2050 – Ongoing
  76. 2110 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2110 – Ongoing
  77. 2160 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2160 – Ongoing
  78. 2190 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2190 – Ongoing
  79. 2220 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2220 – Ongoing
  80. 2250 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2250 – Ongoing
  81. 2420 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2420 – Ongoing
  82. 2480 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2480 – Ongoing
  83. 2540 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2540 – Ongoing
  84. 2680 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2680 – Ongoing
  85. 2850 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2850 – Ongoing
  86. 2920 BCEVEI 3Geological estimate
    BCE 2920 – Ongoing
  87. 3180 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3180 – Ongoing
  88. 3280 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3280 – Ongoing
  89. 3370 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3370 – Ongoing
  90. 3390 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3390 – Ongoing
  91. 3480 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3480 – Ongoing
  92. 3510 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3510 – Ongoing
  93. 3640 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3640 – Ongoing
  94. 3670 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3670 – Ongoing
  95. 3720 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3720 – Ongoing
  96. 3790 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3790 – Ongoing
  97. 3810 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3810 – Ongoing
  98. 3930 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3930 – Ongoing
  99. 4060 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4060 – Ongoing
  100. 4210 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4210 – Ongoing
  101. 4240 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4240 – Ongoing
  102. 4280 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4280 – Ongoing
  103. 4370 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4370 – Ongoing
  104. 4430 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4430 – Ongoing
  105. 4610 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4610 – Ongoing
  106. 4660 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4660 – Ongoing
  107. 4750 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4750 – Ongoing
  108. 4810 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4810 – Ongoing
  109. 4880 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4880 – Ongoing
  110. 5020 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5020 – Ongoing
  111. 5040 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5040 – Ongoing
  112. 5070 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5070 – Ongoing
  113. 5180 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5180 – Ongoing
  114. 5230 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5230 – Ongoing
  115. 5360 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5360 – Ongoing
  116. 5460 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5460 – Ongoing
  117. 5470 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5470 – Ongoing
  118. 5550 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5550 – Ongoing
    NE flank
  119. 5560 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5560 – Ongoing
  120. 5630 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5630 – Ongoing
  121. 5710 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5710 – Ongoing
  122. 5720 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5720 – Ongoing
  123. 5730 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5730 – Ongoing
  124. 5850 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5850 – Ongoing
  125. 5890 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5890 – Ongoing
  126. 5960 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 5960 – Ongoing
  127. 6050 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 6050 – Ongoing
  128. 6170 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 6170 – Ongoing
  129. 6200 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 6200 – Ongoing
  130. 6230 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 6230 – Ongoing
  131. 6380 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 6380 – Ongoing

External links

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