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Holocene volcanic activity at Grímsvötn, Bárdarbunga and Kverkfjöll subglacial centres beneath Vatnajökull, Iceland

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Abstract

Assessment of potential future eruptive behaviour of volcanoes relies strongly on detailed knowledge of their activity in the past, such as eruption frequency, magnitude and repose time. The eruption history of three partly subglacial volcanic systems, Grímsvötn, Bárdarbunga and Kverkfjöll, was studied by analysing tephra from soil profiles around the Vatnajökull ice-cap, which extend back to ~7.6 ka. Well known regional Holocene marker tephra (e.g. H3, H4, H5) were utilized to correlate profiles. Stratigraphic positions and geochemical compositions were used for fine-scale correlation of basaltic tephra. Around Vatnajökull ice-cap 345 tephra layers were identified, of which 70% originated from Grímsvötn, Bárdarbunga or Kverkfjöll. The eruption frequency of each volcanic system was estimated; Grímsvötn has been the most active with an average of ~7 eruptions/100 years (range 4–14) during prehistoric time (before ~870 AD); Bárdarbunga has been the second most active with ~5 eruptions/100 years (range 1–8); and Kverkfjöll has remained essentially calm with 0–3 eruptions/100 years but showing periodic activity with repose times of >1000 years. All three volcanic systems experienced lulls in activity from 5 ka to 2 ka, referred to as the “Mid-Holocene low”. This reduced eruption frequency appears to have resulted from a decrease in magma generation and delivery from the mantle plume rather than from changes in ice-load/glacier thickness. In prehistoric time, there was a time lag of 1000–3000 years between a peak of activity at volcanoes directly above the mantle plume versus at volcanoes located in the non-rifting part of the Eastern Volcanic Zone, closer to the periphery of the island. This time-space relationship suggests that a significant future increase in volcanism can be expected there, following increased levels of volcanism above the plume.

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Acknowledgements

This paper is based on a PhD-study at the Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans (LMV), CNRS-Université Blaise Pascal in Clermont-Ferrand and the University of Iceland. It was financed by the Icelandic Science Foundation, Landsvirkjun, Eimskip Fund and the Research Fund of the University of Iceland, the French government through a student’s grant and the French-Icelandic collaboration programme Jules Verne. Jean-Luc Devidal is specially thanked for his help and discussions during major-element analyses, Thor Thordarson for valuable comments on early version of the manuscript, we thank Judy Fierstein and David Lowe for their constructive reviews and Gudmundur Óli Sigurgeirsson and Ester Anna Ingólfsdóttir for priceless field assistance and patience.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavík, 101, Iceland

    Bergrún Arna Óladóttir

  2. Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, Reykjavík, 101, Iceland

    Gudrún Larsen & Olgeir Sigmarsson

  3. OPGC and CNRS, Université Blaise Pascal, 5 rue Kessler, Clemont-Ferrand, 63038, France

    Bergrún Arna Óladóttir & Olgeir Sigmarsson

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  1. Bergrún Arna Óladóttir
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  2. Gudrún Larsen
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Correspondence to Bergrún Arna Óladóttir.

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Óladóttir, B.A., Larsen, G. & Sigmarsson, O. Holocene volcanic activity at Grímsvötn, Bárdarbunga and Kverkfjöll subglacial centres beneath Vatnajökull, Iceland. Bull Volcanol 73, 1187–1208 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-011-0461-4

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