Skaftá jökulhlaup 2015 - photos from Búland
Glacial outburst flood in their backyard
The jökulhlaup in Skaftá 2015 is probably the largest to have occurred from the Skaftá cauldrons. It was imminent from 29th September and was registered at the gauge by Sveinstindur in the early hours of the morning 1st October. The rate of discharge increase at Sveinstindur is the highest observed since the station was established in 1971.
The farmers of Búland are ususally the first locals to witness these jökulhlaup events, now that farm Skaftárdalur (further inland) is not inhabited all year round anymore. Below Skaftárdalur the river Skaftá splits in three. One branch is Eldvatn beyond Ásar, through Flögulón and down into Kúðafljót. The second goes into Eldhraun at Árkvíslar. The third branch passes the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
The following photos of Skaftá river were taken by the farmers at Búland, Auður Guðbjörnsdóttir and Pétur Davíð Sigurðsson, 1st Oct. 2015. For orientation see a map of gauging stations.
Photos: Auður Guðbjörnsdóttir and Pétur Davíð Sigurðsson, Búland, 880 Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
