Global Volcanism Program | Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull.

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.

Synonyms

Hveravellir

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Gjabakkahraun

Shield volcano

64° 15' 0" N

20° 56' 0" W

Hagafell

Shield volcano

Hallmundarhraun

Shield volcano

757 m

64° 51' 0" N

20° 9' 0" W

Jokulstallar

Shield volcano

Kjalhraun

Shield volcano

834 m

64° 49' 0" N

19° 35' 0" W

Krákshraun

Shield volcano

Lambahraun

Shield volcano

678 m

64° 25' 0" N

20° 25' 0" W

Leggjabrjotur

Shield volcano

Skjaldbreidur

Shield volcano

1056 m

64° 24' 29" N

20° 45' 12" W

Skoflunger

Shield volcano

659 m

64° 26' 22" N

20° 37' 57" W

Solkatla
Leggjarbrjotur

Shield volcano

1026 m

64° 42' 0" N

19° 50' 0" W

Strytuhraun

Shield volcano

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Eldborgir

Crater Row

540 m

64° 15' 0" N

20° 55' 0" W

Eldborgir-Tindaskaga

Crater Row

500 m

64° 14' 0" N

20° 52' 0" W

Krakshraun

Fissure vent

1000 m

64° 59' 0" N

19° 50' 0" W

Solkatla

Crater

Svartahraun

Crater Row

900 m

64° 32' 0" N

20° 21' 0" W

Thjofahraun

Fissure vent

660 m

64° 20' 0" N

20° 49' 0" W

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

371080

950 CE

1,100 m / 3,609 ft

64.85°N
19.7°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Cluster

Volcano Types
Fissure vent(s)
Caldera
Shield(s)
Subglacial

Rock Types

Major
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
Oceanic crust (< 15 km)

Population

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

0
0
5
11,973

Geological Summary

The Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull system includes the Hveravellir central volcano at the northern end of this active volcanic zone that extends NE from the Reykjanes Peninsula. Hveravellir occupies the NE half of the massive Langjökull icecap, east of the Pleistocene Erikskökull table mountain. A summit caldera lies beneath the ice. The Kjalhraun shield volcano east of Langjökull produced about 11 km³ of lava around 7,800 years ago. Several small shield volcanoes have been constructed along flank fissure zones, producing postglacial lava flows on the N, W, and E sides of Langjökull. One of the most prominent of these is a small shield volcano at the site of the massive Hallmundahraun lava flow, which covers about 240 km² and was erupted about 950 CE. The Geysir thermal area lies in the Haukadalur basin, near the southern end of the fissure system. The classic Icelandic shield volcano Skjaldbreidur is also within the southern part of this system, between Thorsjökull glacier and Thingvallavatn lake; the broad, low-angle volcano produced more than 13 km³ of basaltic lava flows during the early Holocene.

References

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

Bourgeois O, Dauteuil O, Van Vliet-Lanoe B, 1998. Pleistocene subglacial volcanism in Iceland: tectonic implications. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 164: 165-178.

Eason D E, Sinton J M, 2009. Lava shields and fissure eruptions of the Western Volcanic Zone, Iceland: evidence for magma chambers and crustal interaction. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 186: 331-348.

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

Johannesson H, 1989. Age of the Hallmundarhraun lava flow in Borgarfjordur. Fjolrit Natturufraedistofnunar, 9: 1-12 (in Icelandic with English summary).

Johannesson H, Jakobsson S P, Saemundsson K, 1982. Geological map of Iceland, sheet 6, south Iceland. Icelandic Museum Nat Hist & Iceland Geodetic Surv, 1:250,000 geol map, 2nd edition.

Johannesson H, Saemundsson K, 1998. Geological map of Iceland, 1:500,000. Tectonics. Icelandic Inst Nat Hist, Reykjavik.

Kjartansson G, 1964. Geological Map of Iceland, Sheet 5, Central Iceland. Reykjavik: Museum Nat Hist Dept Geol Geog, 1:250,000 geol map.

Piper J D A, 1973. Volcanic history and tectonics of the North Langjokull region central Iceland. Can J Earth Sci, 10: 164-179.

Sinton J, Gronvold K, Saemundsson K, 2005. Postglacial eruptive history of the Western Volcanic Zone, Iceland. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 6: Q12009. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005CG001021

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

Thordarson T, Hoskuldsson A, 2008. Postglacial eruptions in Iceland. Jokull, 58: 197-228.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 6 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

0950 ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

Hallmundahraun

0950 ± 50 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Hallmundahraun

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Tephra
0950 ± 50 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2050 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

Lambahraun

2050 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Lambahraun

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Lava fountains
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava lake
2050 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2550 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

Krákshraun

2550 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Krákshraun

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	2550 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

3550 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

Strytuhraun

3550 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Strytuhraun

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	3550 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

5850 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kjalhraun

5850 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at Kjalhraun

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava fountains
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava lake
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
5850 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

8600 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

Leggjarbrjotur

8600 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Leggjarbrjotur

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Lava fountains
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava lake
8600 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull.

Photo Gallery

The broad shield volcano Skjaldbreiður (seen here) rises about 500 m above its surroundings, and has an approximately 300-m-wide summit crater. This volcano formed within the southern part of the Oddnyjarhnjukur-Langjokull volcanic system, between Thorsjökull glacier and Thingvallavatn lake, during the first half of the Holocene.

Photo by Ingibjörg Kaldal (Orkustofunun, courtesy of Richie Williams, U.S. Geological Survey).

The classic Icelandic shield volcano Skjaldbreiður, seen here from the W along Route 52, formed about 9,500 years ago during a long eruption in the southern part of the Oddnyjarhnjukur-Langjokull volcanic system in central Iceland. It produced 17 km³ of basaltic lava flows and is capped by a small 300-m-wide summit crater.

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

Hveravellir central volcano occupies the northeast section of the massive Langjökull icecap, which is seen here in an aerial view from the north with Hvítárvatn lake on the opposite side reflecting the sun. A summit caldera lies beneath the ice. An approximately 100-km-long fissure system extends to the north and southwest of Hveravellir, with numerous small shield volcanoes and lava flows.

Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1990 (Icelandic National Energy Authority).

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes (Link to Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull)

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 Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull. 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 Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull. 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 Oddnýjarhnjúkur-Langjökull

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).