After six months, the volcanic eruption in Holuhraun came to an end on Friday. Producing material for spectacular photographs and numerous articles, the eruption sure was thrilling to observe, but its also a relief that its over.
Heres a brief overview of the developments in the past six months:
The eruption in Holuhraun was preceded by a series of earthquakes which began in Brarbunga volcano, which lies under Vatnajkull glacier, on August 16 but gradually moved to the north.
The pattern of earthquakes indicated that magma was channeling its way underground, creating a 50-km long intrusive dike, which ended in the already existing Holuhraun lava field to the north of the glacier.
After a minor eruption which lasted a few hours on August 29, a 1.6-km (1-mile) long fissure opened up on August 31spewing 1,175C (2,150F) hot lava from three craters, Suri, Baugur and Norri, 100 meters into the air.
The lava spread out over the old lava field, flowing onto the sands and into the riverbed of glacial river Jkuls Fjllum, which retreated. Eventually, the new lava field stopped expanding and started thickening, while the edges around the craters grew taller.
The craters later merged and formed a bubbling lava lake. The eruption remained fairly stable until mid-January. One month later it was reported that the eruption was likely in its final days and on February 27 it came to an end, having lasted almost six months, or 181 days.
Notably, volcanologist Haraldur Sigursson predicted in October that the eruption would end on March 4 and was off only by five days.
With the help of his grandson, an engineering student at Reykjavk University, Haraldur based his prediction on a simple math formula calculating the curve of the decreasing subsidence of the Brarbunga caldera and hence reduced pressure of magma. Its the first time in history that the end of a volcanic eruption has been predicted with such accuracy, he says.
Here are a few facts about the eruption:
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