The fifth eruptin in Grímsvötn since 1983

Grímsvötn is a basaltic volcano, located near the centre of the Vatnajökull ice cap, the largest ice cap in Europe. It is the most active volcano in Iceland.

There have been approx. 70 eruptions in the Grímsvötn volcanic system in historical times. This is the fifth eruption since 1983, the last eruptions through glacier occurred in 2004, 1998, 1996, 1983 and 1934. These eruptions occurred in the Grímsvötn depression with the exception of the eruption in 1996 known as Gjálp.

The volcano has a caldera complex, the most recent one hosting the Grímsvötn subglacial caldera lake that is sustained by extensive geothermal activity. The volcano is almost fully ice covered and interaction of magma and meltwater from the ice causes phreatomagmatic explosive activity.