Abstract
We report how data from satellite and aerial synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations were integrated into monitoring of the 2014-2015 Holuhraun eruption in the Barðarbunga volcanic system, the largest effusive eruption in Iceland since the 1783-84 Laki eruption. A lava field formed in one of the most remote areas in Iceland, after the propagation of a ~50 km-long dyke beneath the Vatnajokull ice cap, where the Barðarbunga caldera is located. Due to the 6 month duration of the eruption, mainly in wintertime, daily monitoring was particularly challenging. During the eruption, the European volcanological project FutureVolc was ongoing, allowing collaboration of many European experts on volcano monitoring activities. Icelandic volcanoes are also a permanent Supersite within the Geohazard Supersites and Natural Laboratories (GSNL) initiative, with support from the Committee on Earth Observation Satellite (CEOS) in the form of a large collection of SAR images. SAR data were acquired by Cosmo-SkyMed (CSK) and TerraSAR-X (TSX) satellites and complemented by aerial SAR images. The large set of SAR satellite data significantly contributed to the daily monitoring during the unrest at Barðarbunga caldera, the Holuhraun eruption and the year following the eruption. Detection of surface changes using both SAR amplitude and phase information was conducted throughout the whole duration of the volcano-tectonic event, and in the following months, to quantify and track the evolution of volcanic processes at Holuhraun and geothermal activity at Barðarbunga volcano. Combination of SAR data with other data sets, e.g. satellite optical images and geodetic Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements, was essential for the evaluation of the volcanic hazard in the whole area. International collaboration within the Futurevolc project formed the basis for successful analyses and interpretation of the large SAR data set. Information was provided at Scientific Advisory Board meetings of the Icelandic Civil Protection and used in decision-making, as well as for supporting field-deployment and air-based surveys.
Highlights
Delivering timely early warnings to local authorities is of prime importance when dealing with natural hazards
Monitoring of the 2014–2015 unrest at Bárðarbunga volcano and the related 6 month effusive eruption was extensively assisted by the use of SAR satellite data
The access to SAR satellite data was facilitated through the Icelandic Volcanoes Supersite and FutureVolc projects, allowing ordering of new acquisitions with the TerraSAR-X and Cosmo-SkyMed satellites
Summary
Delivering timely early warnings to local authorities is of prime importance when dealing with natural hazards. Monitoring large and remote areas can be challenging, as monitoring data quality may by poor and of limited spatial and temporal resolution This may result in delaying the time of information delivery. The diversity of the Icelandic volcanic systems is illustrated by the elongated stratovolcano Hekla, the subglacial Bárðarbunga caldera and the nested calderas at Askja, which all reflect different interactions with tectonics, eruption environment or with the Icelandic mantle plume. These various interactions directly impact the eruptive styles that vary from effusive to large explosive eruptions including mixed eruption behavior. Bad weather conditions and long winters with few hours of daylight add to the difficulties for deploying and maintaining ground-based instrumentation during unrest or volcanic crisis as well as conducting frequent aerial surveys
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