Bárðarbunga created the largest eruption in Icelandic history 

Bárðarbunga is one of Iceland's most powerful volcanoes. Buried beneath the Vatnajökull glacier, it features a large caldera and has a history of major eruptions .  

Geological facts about Bárðarbunga

Bárðarbunga is part of an extensive volcanic system that includes fissures and craters stretching over 190 kilometers (118 miles). This system is among the most productive in Iceland and produced some of the country’s largest lava flows. Key geological highlights include: 

Type: Subglacial stratovolcano. 

Elevation: 2,009 meters (6,591 feet) above sea level, making it Iceland’s second-highest peak. Iceland’s highest peak is Hvannadalshnjúkur which also sits on top of an active volcanic system is 2109 (6952 feet) 

Volcanic System: Bárðarbunga-Veiðivötn 

Caldera: Measures approximately 70 square kilometers (27 square miles) with a depth of up to 850 meters (2.789 feet). 

Eruption Style: Effusive and explosive, producing lava flows and tephra. 

Tectonic Setting: Located along the divergent boundary of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Also, Bárðarbunga is close to a volcanic hot spot which lies directly beneath Vatnajökull  

Past eruptions 

Bárðarbunga’s volcanic activity dates back thousands of years. Prehistoric eruptions often produced left behind vast lava fields.  

6600 BC Þjórsá Lava, the largest Holocene lava flow on Earth, originated from Bárðarbunga about 8,600 years ago, covering 950 square kilometers with a volume of 21–30 cubic kilometers. 

877 The first major eruption after Iceland's settlement was the Vatnaöldur eruption (~877 CE), with a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 4. 

1477  The Veiðivötn eruption in 1477 was Iceland's largest known eruption, with a VEI of 6. 

1701–1864 Tephra studies indicate multiple eruptions beneath the glacier, likely in Bárðarbunga’s northeast. Smaller eruptions also occurred in Dyngjuháls. Activity followed cycles, with eruptions recorded between 1701–1740 and after 1780. 

1910 Bárðarbunga’s last significant eruption before 2014 occurred in the Loki-Fögrufjöll volcano. 

1996 The Gjálp fissure eruption suggested Bárðarbunga and Grímsvötn may be connected. A magnitude 5 earthquake at Bárðarbunga likely triggered the eruption, though petrology studies linked it to the Grímsvötn system. 

2010 On 26 September 2010, an earthquake swarm with over 30 quakes, reaching 3.7 MW, was recorded. 

2014-2015 eruption of Bárðarbunga volcano

Bárðarbunga’s most recent eruption demonstrated the power of this remote volcano. 

Timeline: The eruption began in August 2014 and continued until February 2015, primarily occurring at the Holuhraun fissure north of the caldera. 

Volume: Released approximately 1.6 cubic kilometers (0,4 cubic miles) of lava, forming the largest lava field in Iceland since the Laki eruption of 1783-1784. 

Seismic Activity: Over 30,000 earthquakes accompanied the eruption 

Gas Emissions: Produced vast quantities of sulphur dioxide, affecting air quality in Iceland and as far as mainland Europe. 

Caldera Collapse: The caldera subsided by up to 65 meters (213 feet) during the eruption, indicating significant magma movement.  Bárðarbunga volcano is situated in the north-western corner of Vatnajökull glacier, far away from towns or villages. However, this volcanic system is highly active and is constantly being monitored.  

Volume of lava and tephra generated by Bárðarbunga

Bárðarbunga’s eruptions are marked by substantial output: 

Lava: The Holuhraun eruption produced a lava field covering 85 square kilometers (33 square miles). 

Tephra: Historical eruptions like those in 1477 generated vast tephra deposits, altering regional landscapes. 

Flood Sediments: Jökulhlaups (glacial outburst floods) redistribute sediments, carving valleys and enriching soils downstream. 

Bárðarbunga volcano compared to well-known volcanoes around the world 

Bárðarbunga’s immense scale and activity can be compared to other iconic volcanoes: 

Mauna Loa (Hawaii): Both produce extensive lava flows, though Bárðarbunga’s glacial setting adds flooding hazards.

Mount Pinatubo (Philippines): Pinatubo’s explosive eruption contrasts with Bárðarbunga’s effusive style but parallels exist in global atmospheric impacts. Laki (Iceland): Both are part of Iceland’s volcanic heritage, with Laki’s emissions and lava output rivaling Bárðarbunga’s most significant events. 

Mt. St. Helens (Washington State): Known as the deadliest eruption in US history, the explosion blew the top of the volcano off, leaving behind a massive crater. This eruption was ranked to have a VEI 5, whereas the 1477 Bárðabunga eruption ranked a VEI 6