Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Imprints of sub-glacial volcanic activity on a glacier surface—SAR study of Katla volcano, Iceland

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Bulletin of Volcanology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Katla central volcano, covered by the fourth largest Icelandic glacier Mýrdalsjökull, is among the most dangerous and active volcanoes in Iceland. Due to the ice cover, several indicators of its volcanic activity can only be identified indirectly. We analysed a total of 30 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images with special focus on identifying circular and linear depressions in the glacier surface. Such features are indicative of sub-glacial geothermal heat sources and the adjacent sub-glacial tunnel (melt water drainage) system. The time series comprises images from five different SAR sensors (ERS-1, ERS-2, JERS-1/SAR, RADARSAT and ENVISAT-ASAR) covering a time period of 12 years, starting in 1994. Individual SAR scenes only partly map the glacier surface morphology due to the environmental influences on the SAR backscatter intensity. Thus, only surface features detectable in several SAR scenes at the same location were considered and merged to form an overall picture of the surface morphology of Mýrdalsjökull and its modification by sub-glacial volcanic activity between 1994 and 2006. Twenty permanent and 4 semi-permanent ice cauldrons could be identified on the surface of Mýrdalsjökull indicating geothermally active areas in the underlying caldera. An analysis of their size was not possible due to the indistinct outline in the SAR images. The spatial distribution of the geothermally active areas led to a new, piecemeal caldera model of Katla volcano. All cauldrons are connected to tunnel systems for melt water drainage. More than 100 km of the sub-glacial drainage system could be identified under the Mýrdalsjökull in the SAR time series. It has been found that the tunnel systems are not in agreement with estimated water divides. Our results allow improved assessment of areas of potential Jökulhlaup hazard accompanying a sub-glacial eruption.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Benn DJ, Evans DJA (1998) Glaciers and glaciation. Arnold, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Björnsson H (1975) Subglacial water reservoirs, Jökulhlaups and volcanic eruptions. Jökull 25:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Björnsson H (1988) Hydrology of ice caps in volcanic regions. Societas Scientiarium Islandica 45:1–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Björnsson H (2002) Subglacial lakes and Jökulhlaups in Iceland. Global Planet Change 35:255–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Björnsson H, Pálsson F, Gudmundsson MT (2000) Surface and bedrock topography of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, Iceland: the Katla caldera, eruption sites and routes of Jökulhlaups. Jökull 49:29–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Björnsson H, Rott H, Gudmundsson S, Fischer A, Siegel A, Gudmundsson MT (2001) Glacier–volcano interaction deduced by SAR interferometry. J Glaciol 47:58–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Björnsson H, Pálsson F, Sigurdsson O, Flowers GE (2003) Surges of glaciers in Iceland. Ann Glaciol 36:82–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dehn J, Dean K, Engle K (2000) Thermal monitoring of North Pacific volcanoes from space. Geology 28:755–758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Einarsson P, Brandsdóttir B (2000) Earthquakes in the Mýrdalsjökull area, Iceland, 1978–1985: seasonal correlation and connection with volcanoes. Jökull 49:59–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao J, Yansui L (2001) Application of remote sensing, GIS and GPS in glaciology: a review. Prog Phys Geogr 25:520–540

    Google Scholar 

  • Gudmundsson GB, Stefansson R (2007) Seismicity beneathMýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull ice caps, Iceland. Ann Glaciol 45 (in press)

  • Gudmundsson MT, Högnadóttir T, Kristinsson AB, Gudbjörnsson S (2007) Geothermal activity in the subglacial Katla caldera, Iceland, 1999–2005, studied with radar altimetry. Ann Glaciol 45:66–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris AJL, Flynn LP, Keszthelyi L, Mouginis-Mark PJ, Rowland SK, Resing JA (1998) Calculation of lava effusion rates from Landsat TM data. Bull Volcanol 60:52–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson FM, Lewis AJ (eds) (1998) Principles and application of imaging radar: manual of remote sensing, 3rd edn., vol. 2. Wiley, New York

  • Jakobsson SP (1979) Petrology of recent basalts of the eastern volcanic zone, Iceland. Acta Nat Isl 26:1–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaenicke J, Mayer Ch, Scharrer K, Münzer U, Gudmundsson Á (2006) The use of remote sensing data for mass balance studies at Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, Iceland. J Glaciol 52:565–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kjaer KH, Krüger J, van der Meer JJM (2003) What causes till thickness to change over distance? Answers from Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland. Quat Sci Rev 22:1687–1700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • König M, Winther JG, Isaksson E (2001) Measuring snow and glacier ice properties from satellite. Rev Geophys 39:1–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kristmannsdóttir H, Snorrason A., Gislason SR, Haraldsson H, Gunnarsson A, Hauksdottir S, Elefsen SO (2002) Geochemical warning for subglacial eruptions—background and history. In: Snorrason Á, Finnsdóttir HP, Moss ME (eds) The extremes of the extremes: extraordinary floods. Proc. Reykjavík, Iceland Symp. July 2000. IAHS Publ 271:231–236

  • Lacasse C, Sigurdsson H, Carey SN, Jóhannesson H, Thomas LE, Rogers NW (2006) Bimodal volcanism at the Katla subglacial caldera, Iceland: insight into the geochemistry and petrogenesis of rhyolitic magmas. Bull Volcanol 69:373–399. DOI 10.1007/s00445-006-0082-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen G (2000) Holocene eruptions within the Katla volcanic system, south Iceland: characteristics and environmental impact. Jökull 49:1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipman PW (1997) Subsidence of ash-flow calderas: relation to caldera size and magma-chamber geometry. Bull Volcanol 59:198–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Lombardo V, Buongiorno MF, Pieri D, Merucci L (2004) Differences in Landsat TM derived lava flow thermal structures during summit and flank eruption at Mount Etna. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 134:15–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malin MC, Evans DL, Elachi C (1978) Imaging radar observations of Askja Caldera, Iceland. Geophys Res Lett 5:931–934

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonough M, Martin-Kaye PHA (1984) Radargeologic interpretation of Seasat imagery of Iceland. Int J Remote Sens 5:433–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molnia BF, Jones JE (1989) View through ice: are unusual air-borne radar backscatter features from the surface of the Malaspina Glacier, Alaska, expressions of subglacial morphology? EOS Trans AGU 70:701–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molnia BF, Jones JE (1990) Radar remote sensing of glacial features, Malaspina Glacier, Alaska. Am Assoc Pet Geol Bull 74:723

    Google Scholar 

  • Näslund JO, Hassinen S (1996) Supraglacial sediment accumulations and large englacial water conduits at high elevations in Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland. J Glaciol 42:190–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Nye JF (1976) Water flow in glaciers: Jökulhlaups, tunnels and veins. J Glaciol 76:181–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Oppenheimer C (1991) Lava flow cooling estimated from Landsat Thematic Mapper infrared data: the Lonquimay eruption (Chile, 1989). J Geophys Res 96:21865–21878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts MJ (2005) Jökulhlaups: a reassessment of floodwater flow through glaciers. Rev Geophys 43:RG1002. DOI 10.1029/2003RG000147

  • Röthlisberger H (1972) Water pressure in intra- and subglacial channels. J Glaciol 62:177–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Scharrer K, Mayer Ch, Nagler T, Münzer U, Gudmundsson Á (2007) Effects of ash-layers of the 2004 Grímsvötn eruption on SAR backscatter in the accumulation area of Vatnajökull. Ann Glaciol 45:189–196

  • Sigurdsson O, Zóphoníasson S, Ísleifsson E (2000) The Jökulhlaup from Sólheimajökull, July 18th 1999. Jökull 49:60–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Soosalu H, Jónsdóttir K, Einarsson P (2006) Seismicity crisis at the Katla volcano, Iceland—signs of a cryptodome? J Volcanol Geotherm Res 153:177–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturkell E, Sigmundsson F, Einarsson P (2003) Recent unrest and magma movements at Eyjafjallajökull and Katla volcanoes, Iceland. J Geophys Res 108:2369. DOI 10.1029/2001JB000917

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturm M, Benson CS (1985) A history of Jökulhlaups from Strandline Lake, Alaska, U.S.A. J Glaciol 31:272–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Tómasson H (1996) The Jökulhlaup from Katla in 1918. Ann Glaciol 22:249–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulaby FT, Moore RK, Fung AK (1986) Microwave remote sensing active and passive, vol. III. Addison-Wesley, Reading

  • University of Iceland (2006) Katla monitoring. http://www.earthice.hi.is/page/iesmysurv. Cited on 03 Dec 2006

  • Wingham DJ, Siegert MJ, Shepherd A, Muir AS (2006) Rapid discharge connects Antarctic subglacial lakes. Nature 440:1033–1036. DOI 10.1038/nature04660

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank ESA, NASDA and CSA for the provision of the SAR data in the course of the following projects: ENVISAT ID 142, ESA; ERS AO.2 D116, ESA; JERS-1 ID J-0410, NASDA; RADARSAT ADRO #517, CSA. This research was made possible by the Bavarian Research Foundation (DPA 37/04). Sincere thanks are given to this institution.

This paper was improved substantially following the comments of the reviewers P. Mouginis-Mark and H. Björnsson.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section Geology, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Luisenstr. 37, 80333, Munich, Germany

    K. Scharrer & U. Münzer

  2. Section Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Theresienstr. 41/III, 80333, Munich, Germany

    O. Spieler

  3. Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Commission for Glaciology, Alfons-Goppel Str. 11, 80539, Munich, Germany

    Ch. Mayer

Authors
  1. K. Scharrer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. Spieler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ch. Mayer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. U. Münzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Scharrer.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: A. Harris

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Scharrer, K., Spieler, O., Mayer, C. et al. Imprints of sub-glacial volcanic activity on a glacier surface—SAR study of Katla volcano, Iceland. Bull Volcanol 70, 495–506 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-007-0164-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-007-0164-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation