Satellite Image of Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull

Satellite image of Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull ice caps and surroundings, south-central Iceland. False-color composite of visible (band 1) and short-infrared (bands 3 and 4). Color coding: snow/firn (clouds) = bright white; glacier ice = light blue/cyan; vegetated land = olive and reddish brown; bare ground and water bodies = dark blue/black. Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) data, Sept. 84; image processing by J.S. Aber.

Eyjafjallajökull occupies a volcanic plateau, and two outlet glaciers descend into valleys on north side of the ice cap. Mýrdalsjökull is situated on top of the caldera of Katla, an active volcano. Sólheimajökull is the outlet glacier on its southwest side. Sléttjökull and Kötlujökull are major outlet glaciers on the north and southeast margins.

Return to Ice Age lecture 7.