The lava flows erupted since the beginning of the Holuhraun eruption cover around 37 square km and comprise a total volume of 0.4-0.6 cubic kilometers.
If compared to an explosive eruption using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) scale, it can be said that the eruption has already reached category VEI 5. It has so far emitted about the same volume of magma as the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption, volcanodiscovery.com reports.
The discharge rate is estimated at 250-350 cubic meters per second. For a full day (86,400 seconds), this corresponds to a cube measuring approximately 300 m on its sides, which is enough to fill a football field with a 2-3 km tall pile of lava. Three kilometers is equal to 7.8 times the roof height (381 m) of the Empire State Building.
The subsidence of the Bárðarbunga caldera continues with same rate as before, approx. 50 cm each day. It has now subsided by almost 30 meters in total.
The Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010 was a VEI 4 eruption.
