Located under the ice cap Mýrdalsjökull in Icelandthis training is recognized as the most dangerous volcano in Europe due to its high explosive activity and its ability to cause enormous glacial floods.
With a last recorded eruption in 1918This volcano shows signs of seismic activity which have attracted the attention of volcanology experts and led to increased monitoring. In case of rash, effects in southern Iceland could be devastating and extends beyond its borders.
What is the most dangerous volcano in Europe
He Katla Volcano It is the most dangerous in Europe and it is located in the southern region of Iceland and is hidden under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Its caldera has a diameter of approximately 10 kilometers and the volcano reaches an altitude of 1,450 meters.
Its frequency of eruption, which varies between 40 and 80 years oldmakes Katla a priority target for geologists, who are closely monitoring any signs of activity. In this sense, the Katla had sixteen eruptions documented since the year 930the last in 1918, which suggests that the volcano is close to a new eruptive episode.
Since its first eruptions, Katla has generated significant jökulhlaupsflash floods caused by the melting of the glacier which covers its caldera. These phenomena, characteristic of subglacial activity, occur when the heat of an eruption rapidly melts the ice sheet, releasing large quantities of water that flow down mountain slopes.
In 1918, these glacial floods They extended the Icelandic coastline by 5 kilometers due to sedimentary deposits of volcanic materials.
The Katla volcano and the increase in seismic activity around it
In recent years, scientists have recorded an increase in seismic activity near Katla. The tremors and the phenomenon known as “volcanic inflation” These are signs that warn of an accumulation of magma under the volcanoa key indicator of a possible impending eruption.
“Inflation” is the increase in land volume due to the pressure of gases and magma, a phenomenon that has been documented through studies of land deformation.
This type of activity has therefore raised alarm in the scientific community, since the volcano could accumulate enough pressure to cause a large-scale eruption.
It should be noted that Iceland, a highly seismic and volcanic country, maintains a constant monitoring system of Katla. thanks to seismograph equipment and GPS stations which measure the movement of the ground and allow experts to predict possible eruptions.
Potential impact of a Katla eruption on Europe
The possibility of an eruption of Europe’s most dangerous volcano also has implications for the entire European continent.
Due to its subglacial location, Katla could release a large amount of volcanic ash that would affect air traffic and air quality across much of Europe.. Subglacial eruptions like Katla tend to be explosive, which would amplify their impact on neighboring countries.
Additionally, scientists fear that jökulhlaups resulting from the rash cause massive flooding in the surrounding area. These glacial water flows have destroyed infrastructure and devastated inhabited areas in the past, and the devastation may be even greater today due to the growth of nearby settlements.
What is the Eldgjá volcanic system and its destructive potential
Katla is part of the volcanic system which includes the Eldgja Canyonand its activity is closely linked to it. This system has proven itself in the past significant destructive capacitywith eruptions that left deep scars on the Icelandic landscape.
The island’s main road, Hringvegur, crosses the plains in front of the volcano and represents a strategic route for the country. However, an eruption could render this section unusable and force a redirection of traffic.
The proximity of other active volcanoes, like Eyjafjallajökullconcern increases, since activity in one of them could influence the behavior of neighboring volcanoes. This would form a chain of seismic and volcanic activity.
