Seven eruptions in Bárðarbunga area so far

"We'll have to start referrring to this as an volcanic episode now, instead of a single eruption. It's the same as with Krafla 35 years ago. We have a lot of volcanic activity that comes and goes in a certain area. We have recorded 7 incidents where magma manages to reach the surface," says Björn Oddsson, geophysicist and project manager for Civil Protection.

"This will be especially true if volcanic activity will persist for an extended period of time."

When scientists flew over the area on Sunday they spotted the third spot of volcanic activity under the Dyngjujökull glacier, only 3 kilometers from its edge. Three other sub-glacial eruptions had been noted earlier; two in Dyngjujökull in the past couple of days and then the very first eruption in the area, much further south.

Looking at the non-glacial eruptions there's the first mini-eruption in Holuhraun, the second eruption which is still going strong, and then a fissure further south which has now stopped.

Due to people's interests in visiting the volcano area, Björn emphasizes that this is only a part of a far larger series of events.

"This spans the whole northwestern part of the Vatnajökull glacier. For the past few days we've seen sinkholes form in the Dyngjujökull that measure up to 20 meters deep. The eruption in Holuhraun is still going strong, and the subterranean magma chamber is still advancing, which leads to much seismicity. While people tend to regard the eruption as a magnificent sight, it can prove dangerous to those that are close to it. But the dangers in the overall area are much greater, as we had discussed before the non-glacial eruptions began."

Björn refers there to possible floods from the sub-glacial eruptions. "It may only be a matter of time until those small events under the Dyngjujökull glacier grow in size and manage to reach the surface."

In light of the fact that are now at least four sub-glacial eruptions, the obvious question of where the water will flow arises.

Björn says that it's possible that the water will flow into Jökulsá without any noticeable change. The river is big and water runs into it from various sources over an area tens of kilometers in size.

"Theoretically it could flow into Jökulsá without us even noticing it."