Bull Volcanol (1992) 54:385-392
Vol(a olog
Effect of glacier loading/deloading on volcanism:
postglacial volcanic production rate
of the Dyngjufjiill area, central Iceland
Gudmundur E Sigvaldason, Kristian Annertz*, and Magnus Nilsson*
Nordic Volcanological Institute, University of Iceland, Iceland
Received January 17, 1991/Accepted November 18, 1991
Abstract. Tephrochronological dating of postglacial
volcanism in the Dyngjufjrll volcanic complex, a major
spreading center in the Icelandic Rift Zone, indicates a
high production rate in the millennia following degla-
ciation as compared to the present low productivity.
The visible and implied evidence indicates that lava
production in the period 10000-4500 aP was at least 20
to 30 times higher than that in the period after 2900 BP
but the results are biased towards lower values for lava
volumes during the earlier age periods since multiple
lava layers are buried beneath younger flows. The
higher production rate during the earlier period coin-
cides with the disappearance of glaciers of the last gla-
ciation. Decreasing lithostatic pressure as the glacier
melts and vigorous crustal movements caused by rapid
isostatic rebound may trigger intense volcanism until a
new pressure equilibrium has been established.
Introduction
The ability of a magmatic liquid to break its subsurface
container and appear on the surface in a volcanic erup-
tion depends on the balance between the magmatic
pressure potential and the lithostatic pressure on the
roof of the magma chamber. When the magmatic pres-
sure is equal to the lithostatic pressure an increase in
the former or a small drop in the latter may result in an
eruption. Thorarinsson (1953) suggested that a pressure
drop caused by the removal of a 100-m-deep glacier
meltwater lake from the ice-dammed Grimsvrtn cal-
dera in Iceland triggered eruptions of the type that
sometimes accompany glacier bursts. Matthews (1969)
discussed the tectonic implications of eustatic sea level
changes and suggested that unloading of the ocean ba-
sin during glaciation might cause upward movement of
magma leading to volcanism periodic with glaciations.
Chappel (1975) doubted, but does not exclude, the
possibility that eustatic changes might modulate vol-
* Present address: Institute of Geology, University of Lund, Srl-
vegatan 13, S-22362 Lund, Sweden
9 Springer-Verlag 1992
canism, and he called for detailed studies of the vol-
canic record in deep-sea drill cores. Ninkovich and
Donn (1976) could not find any correlation between the
frequency of occurrence of ash layers in deep-sea drill
cores and climatic changes during Cenozoic times.
The reverse argument - that volcanism might initiate
glaciations - has also been extensively discussed in the
literature (Bray 1974, 1976, 1977; Rampino et al.
1979).
Rampino et al. (1979) recognized that some large
eruptions do occur at times of global cooling and asked
the question whether such climatic changes might trig-
ger explosive eruptions, possibly in connection with
isostatic adjustment accompanying the global redistri-
bution of water.
Global cooling causing sea-level draw-down of up to
100 m may have triggered voluminous ring fracture
eruptions on the island of Pantelleria (Mahood and
Wallmann 1985; Wallmann et al. 1988), while global
warming, causing the melting of a thick cap of the last
glaciations may have initiated intense volcanic activity
in Iceland (Sigvaldason 1986; Gudmundsson 1986; Sej-
rup et al. 1989). While eustatic sea-level draw-down is
relatively small as compared to the large pressure in-
crease due to ice accumulation in polar and subpolar
areas during glaciations, volcanic areas located beneath
the glacier ice would be maximally affected by pressure
changes caused by the redistribution of water. Evidence
for a correlation between volcanism and glaciations
may be present in the geological record of Iceland
where intensive volcanism occurs, as well as accumula-
tion of thick inland ice during glaciations.
The present paper reports variable volcanic produc-
tivity in part of the the Northern Rift Zone in Iceland
in postglacial time and relates this to the glacial re-
bound after the last glaciation.
Geologic background
The Dyngjufjrll volcanic center, with the Askja caldera
is located on one of five major fissure systems of the
386
'~,~*'~
,I~V'~4, ", i !~i~q
i ' ',
Northern Rift Zone of Iceland, (Fig. 1), (S~emundsson
1979). The Dyngjufj611 fissure system is approximately
100 km long and 20 km wide. Volcanic activity has been
most intense in the southern part of the system where
volcanic products have piled up to form the Dyngju-
fj611 volcanic center. In close proximity to the volcanic
center are several lava shields, each representing a vol-
canic episode producing several cubic kilometers of
lava (Fig. 2). Where topography allows, the area is cov-
ered by recent lava flows. Several eruptions have been
reported in this area in the past centuries, but without
specifying the exact location of the volcanic vents due
to the remoteness and inaccessibility of the area.
The first historic volcanic event recorded with cer-
tainty in the Dyngjufj611 area was the plinian eruption
of 1875, which produced about 2 km 3 of silicic tephra
(0.5 km 3 DRE), (Thorarinsson 1963; Sigvaldason 1979;
Sparks et al. 1981; Sigurdsson and Sparks 1981). A few
small basaltic eruptions occurred between 1920 and
1930 as well as one eruption in 1961 (Thorarinsson and
Sigvaldason 1962). Silicic eruptions are rare in the fis-
sure system and the total amount of silicic products in
the area is less than 1%. All products referred to in this
paper are basaltic lavas ranging in composition from
olivine tholeiites to quartz tholeiites. Olivine tholeiites
predominate in lava shields while quartz tholeiites are
commonly produced in fissure eruptions within or in
close proximity to the volcanic center. The chemical
composition of lavas in the area was described by Sig-
valdason (1974a).
Dating of lavas
The surface of the area is covered with debris from ex-
plosive volcanic activity within the Dyngjufj611 center
/' rl ir
J~
Fig.2 ~ /
~Dyngiufj611
i ,4
7
ai6kull
Fig. 1. The fissure systems
(shaded) and volcanic centers (cir
cled)
and tephra from volcanoes in other parts of the coun-
try. Lava contours are, however, distinct on aerial pho-
tographs which were used to map the lava distribution
(Fig. 2).
Four dated silicic tephra layers from Hekla volcano
in south Iceland were deposited in northeast Iceland
(Thorarinsson 1967, 1971; Larsen and Thorarinsson
1977; Larsen 1982). Furthermore a silicic tephra layer
from Or~efaj6kull in southeast Iceland (Thorarinsson
1958) and a basaltic tephra layer (Benjaminsson 1981)
from the Veidiv6tn fissure (Larsen 1982 and personal
communication) are found in the area (Fig. 1, Table
1).
Preservation of tephra layers is variable. Soil sec-
tions containing all the above tephra layers are rare.
The individual Hekla layers are difficult to identify in
the field, but the 0r~efaj6kull tephra and the Veidiv6tn
tephra have distinct macroscopic characteristics. It was
therefore necessary to apply laboratory studies for
identification of the Hekla layers. Grain-size analysis
and microsopce criteria did not prove sufficiently dis-
tinctive but chemical analysis of glass fragments by mi-
croprobe gave satisfactory results.
During one eruption the chemical composition of
the Hekla tephra changes with time, and a similar com-
positional pattern is repeated from one eruption to an-
other (Thorarinsson 1967; Sigvaldason 1974b). Rapid
shifts in wind direction in Iceland make it likely that
Fig. 2. The Dyngjufj611volcanic center; 1, Shield lavas >4500
B.P.; 2, Fissure lavas >4500 B.P.; 3, Shield lavas >3500<4500
B.P.; 4, Fissure lavas >3500<4500 B.P.; 5, Shield lavas
>2900<3500 B.P.; 6, Fissure lavas >2900<3500 B.P.; 7, Inter-
glacial lava shield; 8, Fissure lavas >AD 1477<2900 B.P.; 9, Fis-
sure lavas <AD 1920; 10, Hyaloclastite