Deformation due to Magma Movement and Ice Unloading at Katla Volcano

• Main Authors: Andrew Hooper, Rikke Pedersen
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Katla; Mýrdalsjökull; Ice cap; Iceland
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.375.6729

Katla volcano is situated in the south of Iceland, and is largely covered by the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap. Historically, Katla is one of the most active of Iceland’s volcanoes, with 20 eruptions in the last 1100 years, the last one being in 1918. The proximity of populated areas and international flight paths makes prediction of the timing and character of any future eruption particularly important. Between late 2000 and early 2005 there was increased seismicity beneath the caldera and west flank of Katla, accompanied by upwards and radially outwards movement of two continuous GPS stations north of Katla caldera. This motion has since ceased, but two continuous GPS sites on the southern flank have been trending upwards and south-southwest since 2000, and this motion continues