Cite this Report
On 15 August park rangers noted unusually high water in the Volgu River, which originates from a water-filled depression called Gengissig in a geothermal area of Kverkfjöll; the high water destroyed a walking bridge. The next day an overflight of the area by members of National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (NCIP), the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), and the Institute of Earth Sciences revealed that Gengissig was empty and that a phreatic explosion had deposited streaks of dark material on the rock and snow.
2013: August
Cite this Report
On 15 August park rangers noted unusually high water in the Volgu River, which originates from a water-filled depression called Gengissig in a geothermal area of Kverkfjöll; the high water destroyed a walking bridge. The next day an overflight of the area by members of National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (NCIP), the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), and the Institute of Earth Sciences revealed that Gengissig was empty and that a phreatic explosion had deposited streaks of dark material on the rock and snow.
The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Kverkfjöll.
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.
Craters |
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| Feature Name | Feature Type | Elevation | Latitude | Longitude |
| Arnardalsoldugjoska Yngri | Crater Row | 65° 10' 0" N | 16° 5' 0" W | |
| Kreppuhraun | Fissure vent | 64° 46' 0" N | 16° 22' 0" W | |
| Krepputunguhraun | Fissure vent | 64° 55' 0" N | 17° 2' 0" W | |
| Kverkfjallaranamyndun | Crater Row | 64° 49' 0" N | 16° 30' 0" W | |
| Lindahraun | Fissure vent | 64° 46' 0" N | 16° 30' 0" W | |
| Urdalshraun Eystri | Crater Row | 64° 49' 0" N | 17° 5' 0" W | |
| Urdalshraun Vestari | Crater Row | 64° 51' 0" N | 17° 12' 0" W | |
| Vestasti Urdarhalsgigur | Crater Row | 64° 51' 0" N | 17° 12' 0" W | |
Thermal |
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| Feature Name | Feature Type | Elevation | Latitude | Longitude |
| Hveradalur | Thermal | |||
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There is data available for 8 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.
1968 May 23 - 1968 Jun 16 ± 15 days Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0
| Episode 1 | Eruption | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 May 23 - 1968 Jun 16 ± 15 days | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||
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List of 1 Events for Episode 1
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1959 Jul 2 ± 182 days Confirmed Eruption
| Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 Jul 2 ± 182 days - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||
1929 Jan - 1929 Feb Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1
| Episode 1 | Eruption | Hveradalur area | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 Jan - 1929 Feb | Evidence from Observations: Reported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Hveradalur area
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1729 Aug Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1
| Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1729 Aug - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||
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List of 2 Events for Episode 1
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1729 Feb 15 ± 45 days Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1
| Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1729 Feb 15 ± 45 days - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||
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List of 2 Events for Episode 1
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1655 Apr 15 ± 45 days Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0
| Episode 1 | Eruption | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1655 Apr 15 ± 45 days - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||
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List of 2 Events for Episode 1
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5000 BCE ± 1000 years Confirmed Eruption
| Episode 1 | Eruption | Krepputunguhraun, Kverfjallahraun | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 BCE ± 1000 years - Unknown | Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology | ||||||||||||||
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List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Krepputunguhraun, Kverfjallahraun
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7050 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption
| Episode 1 | Eruption | Arnadalsoldugjoska | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7050 BCE (?) - Unknown | Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology | ||||||||||||||
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List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Arnadalsoldugjoska
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There is data available for 1 deformation periods. Expand each entry for additional details.
| Start Date: 2007 Feb | Stop Date: 2008 Apr | Direction: Uplift | Method: GPS, InSAR |
| Magnitude: 6.000 cm | Spatial Extent: Unknown | Latitude: Unknown | Longitude: Unknown |
Remarks: A deep dyke intrusion at Upptyppingar in the Kverkfjoll volcanic system was likely ehanced by a retreating ice cap. | |||
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Satellite radar and GPS data, and corresponding model results. a,b, Ascending track 230 spanning 27 June 2007 to 16 July 2008. c,d, Descending track 467 spanning 14 July 2007 to 28 June 2008. a and c show the observations with each colour fringe representing 28 mm of displacement toward the satellite. b and d show the modelled radar displacements together with horizontal GPS velocities, observed in black, with 95% confidence ellipses, and modelled in white. Also shown are the surface projections of the model source patches given in Fig. 3 (white rectangles), and catalogue earthquake epicentres for the entire intrusion period27 (black circles). From: Hooper et al. 2011. |
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Reference List: Hooper et al. 2011.
Full References:
Hooper A, Ófeigsson B, Sigmundsson F, Lund B, Geirsson H, Einarsson P, Sturkell E, 2011. Increased capture of magma in the crust promoted by ice-cap retreat in Iceland. Nature Geosci, 4, 783-786. https://doi.org/10.1038/NGEO1269
There is no Emissions History data available for Kverkfjöll.
Kverkfjöll, seen here from the north, is a subglacial volcano at the northern end of the Vatnajökull icecap, west of Bárdarbunga. The Dyngjujökull glacier, an outflow sheet of the Vatnajökull icecap, appears in the foreground during a 1977 glacial surge. The dark ridge on the left, seen here separated from the outflow sheet by a stream, is a lava flow from about 4,500 to 6,100 years ago. 
The broad, relatively flat-topped and ice-covered summit of the Kverkfjöll volcano (upper right) is seen here from Snæfell mountain. This view looks WSW across the Bruarjökull glacier, an outflow sheet of the vast Vatnajökull icecap. Holocene lavas form the dark ridge extending across the horizon to the right from Kverkfjöll.Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.
There are no samples for Kverkfjöll in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.
| Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes (Link to Kverkfjöll) | 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. |
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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 Kverkfjöll. 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 Kverkfjöll. 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 Kverkfjöll | 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). |
