Global Volcanism Program | Snaefellsjökull

Most Recent Weekly Report: 11 November-17 November 2020 Cite this Report

IMO reported that the Alert Level for Snaefellsjokull was raised from Gray (insufficient monitoring) to Green (normal, non-eruptive) on 12 November, reflecting the recent installation of three seismic stations along the peninsula. The new instruments will allow for better coverage and sensitivity for the detection of seismic unrest. The Alert Level scale consists of five colors.

Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO)

Weekly Reports - Index

2020: November

11 November-17 November 2020 Cite this Report

IMO reported that the Alert Level for Snaefellsjokull was raised from Gray (insufficient monitoring) to Green (normal, non-eruptive) on 12 November, reflecting the recent installation of three seismic stations along the peninsula. The new instruments will allow for better coverage and sensitivity for the detection of seismic unrest. The Alert Level scale consists of five colors.

Source: Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO)

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Snaefellsjökull.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Bardarlaug

Cone

120 m

64° 46' 0" N

23° 41' 0" W

Budaklettur

Cone

88 m

64° 48' 0" N

23° 26' 0" W

Holaholar

Cone

113 m

64° 47' 0" N

23° 56' 0" W

Holatindar

Cone

670 m

64° 47' 41" N

23° 50' 33" W

Kviahnukur
Kviahnjukur

Cone

688 m

64° 47' 8" N

23° 43' 48" W

Ljosakrida

Cone

696 m

64° 49' 15" N

23° 50' 45" W

Ondverdarnesholar

Shield volcano

100 m

64° 51' 0" N

24° 0' 0" W

Purkholl
Purkholar

Cone

135 m

64° 45' 12" N

23° 49' 21" W

Raudholar

Cone

180 m

64° 52' 0" N

23° 53' 0" W

Saxholar

Cone

104 m

64° 51' 6" N

23° 55' 34" W

Sjonarholl

Cone

64° 51' 0" N

23° 51' 0" W

Svalthufa

Cone

40 m

64° 44' 0" N

23° 47' 0" W

Svortutindar

Cone

819 m

64° 49' 52" N

23° 50' 45" W

Toppgig

Cone

64° 48' 0" N

23° 49' 0" W

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

370010

200 CE

1,446 m / 4,744 ft

64.8°N
23.783°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano
Pyroclastic cone(s)

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
Oceanic crust (< 15 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

9
129
2,264
11,820

Geological Summary

Ice-clad Snaefellsjökull volcano anchors the western tip of the isolated Snaefellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. Numerous pyroclastic cones dot the flanks of this stratovolcano, the only large central volcano in this part of Iceland. Lower-flank craters produced basaltic lava flows and upper-flank craters intermediate-to-silicic material. Holocene lava flows extend to the sea over the entire western half of the volcano. Several Holocene silicic eruptions have originated from the summit crater. The latest dated eruption took place about 1750 years ago; several lava flows may be even younger.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Bardason T, 1990. Lava flows near Snaefellsjokull. Rannsoknarverkefni Hakoli Islands, 17 p (in Icelandic).

Gudmundsson A T, 1986. Iceland-Fires. Reykjavik: Vaka-Helgafell, 168 p.

Johannesson H, 1982. Summary of the geology of Snaefellsnes. Arbok Ferdafelags Islands 1982, p 151-172 (in Icelandic).

Johannesson H, Flores R M, Jonsson J, 1981. A short account of the Holocene tephrochronology of the Snaefellsjokull central volcano, western Iceland. Jokull, 9: 23-30.

Kjartansson G, 1968. Geological map of Iceland, sheet 2, west-central Iceland. Icelandic Museum Nat Hist, 1:250,000 geol map.

Steinthorsson S, 1967. Two new C-14 datings on tephra from Snaefellsjokull. Natturufraedingurinn, 37: 236-238 (in Icelandic with English abs).

Steinthorsson S, et al., 2002. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World - Iceland. Unpublished manuscript.

Thorarinsson S (ed), 1960. On the geology and geophysics of Iceland. 21st Internatl Geol Cong, Copenhagen, Guidebook, A2: 1-73 p.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 10 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

0200 ± 150 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Tephra layer Sn-1

0200 ± 150 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Tephra layer Sn-1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Pumice

1000 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

NW flank (Raudhólar)

1000 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at NW flank (Raudhólar)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Cinder Cone
1000 BCE ± 500 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2010 BCE ± 100 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Tephra layer Sn-2

2010 BCE ± 100 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Tephra layer Sn-2

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Pumice

2270 BCE ± 300 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

South flank (Thufuhraun)

2270 BCE ± 300 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at South flank (Thufuhraun)

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	2270 BCE ± 300 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2400 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

NE flank (800 m)

2400 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at NE flank (800 m)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Cinder Cone
2400 BCE ± 200 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2970 BCE ± 300 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

SE flank (Dagverdarahraun)

2970 BCE ± 300 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at SE flank (Dagverdarahraun)

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	2970 BCE ± 300 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

4050 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

West flank (Ondverdarnesholar)

4050 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at West flank (Ondverdarnesholar)

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	4050 BCE ± 1000 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

4550 BCE ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

East of Snaefellsjökull (Budaklettur)

4550 BCE ± 1500 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at East of Snaefellsjökull (Budaklettur)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Entered water.
4550 BCE ± 1000 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

6050 BCE ± 1000 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Tephra layer Sn-3

6050 BCE ± 1000 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Tephra layer Sn-3

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Pumice

8460 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

8460 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Tephra

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Snaefellsjökull.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Snaefellsjökull.

Photo Gallery

The Búðaklettur scoria cone on the east flank of Snæfellsjökull in western Iceland was the source of the Búðahraun lava flow covering 18 km² and forming a peninsula. Holocene lava flows form much of the surrounding coastline.

Photo by Richie Williams, 1981 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Lýsuhóll, Iceland's smallest volcanic system, consists of small scoria cones and vents in a roughly NW-SE trend along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the center of this photo. The cones and vents are seen here from the ENE and are located between the snow-covered Helgrindur mountains in the foreground and the glaciated Snæfellsjökull in the background.

Photo by Thorvaldur Bragason, Iceland Geodetic Survey (courtesy of Richie Williams, U.S. Geological Survey).

Glaciated Snæfellsjökull towers above Breiðavík bay at the western tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. Numerous cones have formed across the flanks and Holocene lava flows extend across the entire western half of the edifice to the sea. One recent flow that reached the coast on the eastern flank can be seen in the left side of the photo.

Photo by Richie Williams, 1979 (U.S. Geological Survey).

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 1 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number	Sample Description	Lava Source	Collection Date
NMNH 115623	Olivine Tholeiite	--	--

External Sites

Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes (Link to Snaefellsjökull)

The Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes is an interactive, web-based tool, containing information on volcanic systems that belong to the active volcanic zones of Iceland. It is a collaboration of the Icelandic Meteorological Office (the state volcano observatory), the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, and the Civil Protection Department of the National Commissioner of the Iceland Police, with contributions from a large number of specialists in Iceland and elsewhere. This official publication is intended to serve as an accurate and up-to-date source of information about active volcanoes in Iceland and their characteristics. The Catalogue forms a part of an integrated volcanic risk assessment project in Iceland GOSVÁ (commenced in 2012), as well as being part of the effort of FUTUREVOLC (2012-2016) on establishing an Icelandic volcano supersite.

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Snaefellsjökull. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Snaefellsjökull. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Snaefellsjökull

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).