Gradual caldera collapse at Bárdarbunga volcano, Iceland, regulated by lateral magma outflow

Magnús T. Gudmundsson*, Kristín Jónsdóttir, Andrew Hooper, Eoghan P. Holohan, Sæmundur A. Halldórsson, Benedikt G. Ófeigsson, Simone Cesca, Kristín S. Vogfjörd, Freysteinn Sigmundsson, Thórdís Högnadóttir, Páll Einarsson, Olgeir Sigmarsson, Alexander H. Jarosch, Kristján Jónasson, Eyjólfur Magnússon, Sigrún Hreinsdóttir, Marco Bagnardi, Michelle M. Parks, Vala Hjörleifsdóttir, Finnur PálssonThomas R. Walter, Martin P J Schöpfer, Sebastian Heimann, Hannah I. Reynolds, Stéphanie Dumont, Eniko Bali, Gudmundur H. Gudfinnsson, Torsten Dahm, Matthew J. Roberts, Martin Hensch, Joaquín M C Belart, Karsten Spaans, Sigurdur Jakobsson, Gunnar B. Gudmundsson, Hildur M. Fridriksdóttir, Vincent Drouin, Tobias Dürig, Gudfinna Adalgeirsdóttir, Morten S. Riishuus, Gro B M Pedersen, Tayo Van Boeckel, Björn Oddsson, Melissa A. Pfeffer, Sara Barsotti, Baldur Bergsson, Amy Donovan, Mike R. Burton, Alessandro Aiuppa

*Corresponding author for this work

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    Abstract

    Large volcanic eruptions on Earth commonly occur with a collapse of the roof of a crustal magma reservoir, forming a caldera. Only a few such collapses occur per century, and the lack of detailed observations has obscured insight into the mechanical interplay between collapse and eruption.We usemultiparameter geophysical and geochemical data to show that the 110-squarekilometer and 65-meter-deep collapse of Bárdarbunga caldera in 2014-2015 was initiated through withdrawal of magma, and lateral migration through a 48-kilometers-long dike, from a 12-kilometers deep reservoir. Interaction between the pressure exerted by the subsiding reservoir roof and the physical properties of the subsurface flow path explain the gradual, nearexponential decline of both collapse rate and the intensity of the 180-day-long eruption.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numberaaf8988
    JournalScience
    Volume353
    Issue number6296
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 15 Jul 2016

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