The crater lake on Askja caldera has mysteriously become ice-free over the last month, says this article by Erik Klemetti.
This appears to be the only lake in the area devoid of ice. Lakes around it (that are not on volcanoes, and are located at lower elevations) are still ice-covered, says Klemetti.
Crater lake at Askja in Iceland. Normally, the lake isn’t ice-free until June or July. The unconfirmed "ash" marked on the image could also be dust or material from fumaroles. Image courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory and processed by Robert Simmon.
This has lead to speculation about what exactly is going on, but thanks to Askja’s remote location almost in the middle of Iceland, that’s all it is – speculation.
The most recent seismic activity at Askja, in 1961, produced lava flows near Öskjuvatn – a pattern seen numerous times since a caldera-forming eruption in 1875 when ash and tephra fell as far away as Norway and Sweden.
The 1875 eruption was so severe that ashfall devastated the country and instigated a massive emigration from Iceland.
Rising water temperatures could mean a slight increase in seismic activity, but again, that’s speculation.
Klemetti has posted lots more info on Askja here, including photos taken over the last couple of months to show how extensively the ice has melted:
Thanks to David for this link
Erik Klemetti is an assistant professor of Geosciences at Denison University. His passion in geology is volcanoes, and he has studied them all over the world.
See other posts by Erik Klemetti.
12 Responses to Unexplained Melting at Askja Crater Lake in Iceland
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A human-made global warming they will blame.
yes, it’s all George Bush’s fault!
Ruh Roh… This cannot be good…
A large volcanic eruption in Iceland now would greatly accelerate the entire cooling process already under way, because it’d coincide with the arrival of the winter in the South Hemisphere.
For more information on this event plus general Iceland activity visit Jon Friman’s Iceland Volcanic Blog.
Jon Friman Blog
If this volcano goes the airlines are going to be hurt and farmers in Europe hurt. Could this be a sign of a coming age.
Hmmmm? Caldera? Ice ALL Melts in a month? Ice in surrounding area remains? Sounds like the magma chamber is filling up … Perhaps an eruption is looming!
Speculation? I think is not speculation. The only thing that can cause such effects is volcanic activity. The area is only 11 miles east the middle atlantic ridge so it is likely ice melting is due to tectonic (and consequently volcanic)activity.
good thing no one lives close by I think..
worth keeping a satellite eye on it.
mr Klemettis page is great, heaps of info..thanks Robert and Erik
Wouldn’t it be easier to list those volcanoes not ‘warming up’ in some manner?
Volcano + water = hot spring.
Hot spring + ice = no ice.
How hard is that to comprehend?