Run the sea in Skaftá
Electrical conductivity in Skaftá has steadily increased over the past 24 hours, and the water level at Sveinstind has increased over the past few years.
There have also been reports of a sulfur smell in the vicinity of Skaftár and Hverfisfljót, according to website of the Meteorological Office of Iceland.
It is not believed that the melting of the glacier or precipitation caused these changes, but these observations indicate that the Skaftárrhlaub has begun.
Data indicate that the source of the flow is in Vestari-Skaftárkatli. The last run from the cauldron was in September 2019, but the runs from the western cauldron are generally smaller than the runs from the eastern one.
Flow at Sveinstind was about 290 m3/s at 12 but it is expected that the maximum flow in this run will not exceed 750 m3/s. However, it is not excluded that water will run out of the Eystri-Skaftárkatli as a result, as happened in August 2018.
A consultation meeting will be held at the Meteorological Office at 14 where the development of cases will be discussed in more detail.
Residents are aware of the situation
It is important that residents and all those who pass through the flood area are aware of such things as these that may occur and that operators are informed about possible natural hazards, says the announcement from the Norwegian Meteorological Agency.
- In the next few days, flood conditions will prevail on the banks of Skaftár. It is possible that Skaftá will overflow roads that run close to riverbanks.
- Hydrogen sulphide is transported with the runoff when it comes from the glacier. Its concentration is then so great that it can damage the mucous membrane of the eyes and respiratory tract. Travelers are therefore strongly advised to stay away from the course of the Skaftár above Skaftárdal as well as the edges of Skaftárjökull, Tungnárjökull and Síðujökull during the race.
- Cracks will form very quickly around the cauldron, so travelers to Vatnajökull should stay away from the cauldrons, as well as the edges of Skaftárjökull, Tungnárjökull and Síðujökull, where runoff could break its way to the surface.
Background information and sources of Skaftárrlaurun
There are two shaft water boilers, an eastern and a western one, and are located on the west side of Vatnajökull. They are formed there due to geothermal heat that melts the glacier bed and water that collects there. When the water pressure becomes so high that the glacier cannot hold back, it runs away from the boilers. Runs from the Eystri-Skaftár boiler are generally larger than runs from the Vestari boiler. Skaftár glaciers as they appear today began in 1955, but since then 58 glaciers are known in Skaftá. As a general rule, each boiler runs separately every two years.