1996 eruption of Gjálp
| 1996 eruption of Gjálp | |
|---|---|
Gjálp eruption: Jökulhlaup 1996 over Skeiðarársandur, the piedmont glacier Skeiðarárjökull and Öræfajökull in the background | |
| Volcano | Gjálp |
| Start date | 30 September 1996 |
| End date | 13 October 1996 |
| Type | Subglacial fissure eruption |
| Location | Western Vatnajökull 64°32′00″N 17°25′00″W / 64.53333°N 17.41667°W |
| VEI | 3 |
| Impact | Jökulhlaup over Skeiðarársandur, Hringvegur partially destroyed |
Gjálp (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈcaul̥p]) is a hyaloclastite ridge (tindar) in Iceland under the Vatnajökull glacier shield. Its present form resulted from an eruption series in 1996 and it is probably part of the Grímsvötn volcanic system. However, not all the scientists were of this opinion, as seismic studies are consistent with a 10 km (6.2 mi) lateral dike intrusion at about 5 km (3.1 mi) depth from Bárðarbunga being the trigger event. This does not exclude a shallower secondary intrusion from Grímsvötn being important in the subaerial eruption itself.