THURSDAY OCTOBER 10 1996
New 3.5 km long rift in volcanic glacier
A newly formed 3.5 km long rift has been torn into the surface of the volcano
wracked Vatnajökull glacier in south central Iceland. Scientists only discovered
the gorge yesterday after the weather cleared to allow the first observation
flights over the icecap in almost a week.
The cleft lies just to the south of the main crater which was formed at the
beginning of the month by a volcanic eruption forcing its way through 450 metres
of glacial ice.
Scientists estimate that the southern end of the newly formed ravine is 200
metres wide, but that the cleft is much wider at its northern end nearest the
crater.
The eruption continued unabated yesterday, belching enormous towers of black
volcanic ash, smoke, steam and detritus high above the cracked surface of the
glacier.
At one stage yesterday there were massive explosions of ash from the crater at
regular 10-15 milute intervals.
Meanwhile the Grímsvötn subglacial basin, a huge depression under the icecap,
continues to fill with meltwater. There has, as yet, been no sign of the large scale
flooding of the surrounding countryside warned of by scientists.