This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 858092

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Archive: September 2022

Krafla multiparametric experiment

15 September 2022
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Installation of geo-electric receivers
Installation of geo-electric receivers
Deployment of a seismic node
Deployment of a seismic node
Ph.D. students setting up a GPS/GNSS station
PhD students setting up a GPS/GNSS station
Continuous CO2 flux monitoring station (bottome left)
Continuous CO2 flux monitoring station (bottome left)

The IMPROVE multi-parametric experiment at Krafla took place from June 17 to July 3 (with some groups continuing further). A total of 41 personnel took place, including 14 Early Stage Researchers recruited under IMPROVE. The experiment has a strong scientific content, as it is described in the project:

OBJECTIVE #1. IMPROVE will attack the present-day major limitation in underground imaging of volcanoes, by concentrating the research of 9 ESRs and their scientific tutorship teams in a coordinated, multi-disciplinary effort aimed at testing current-day models, and developing new ones, at Krafla, the unique place where ground- truth testing can be conducted thanks to direct knowledge of the magma-rock interface.

It also has a similarly strong educational content, justifying the participation of all of the IMPROVE ESRs (one still to be recruited at the time), including those focusing their research activities on Mount Etna.

ESRProjectInst.Objectives (shortened)Active field component
3Thermo-mechanical modelling of the shallow magmatic body at KraflaINGVConstrain dynamics and thermo-mechanical properties of subsurface at KraflaNone
5Thermal response of a geothermal system to intrusion and rifting episodesUIQuantify thermal and fluid flow effects of intrusions and rifting; study energy budgetExploration of thermal output of fumaroles
6Crustal deformation modeling in the Krafla area based on realistic Earth propertiesUIConstruct 3D visco-poro-elastic model; use to study geothermal and other deformationGNSS measurements (~70 campaign stations); levelling
7Time lapse virtual & earthquake source seismic imagery at KraflaDIASApply and developed innovative seismic reflection for chamber roof; new borehole seismometers100 nodes; 20 seismometers; borehole seismometer
9Evolution of permeability in Krafla's geothermal field and associated seismo-acoustic patternsLMUDetermine permeability and volatile flux evolution using lab work & simulations; link to seismicitySample collection; drill cuttings; field permeability measurements
11Shallow crustal density distributions and its evolution at the Krafla volcanic systemUNIV-BRISConstruct 3D subsurface density model from gravity & other data; temporal gravity changesGravity survey (incl. GNSS)
12Multi-scale high resolution geophysical imaging of Krafla sub-volcanic systemIS-TerreVH-res electric, IP, MT, seismic, magnetic surveys; link with seismicity, flow, & joint integration60 electric, 100 seismic nodes; 6 magnetotelluric systems
13Modeling mass balance and stress transfer at the Krafla volcanic systemGFZInstall 5 continuous gravity+ stations; compare with production data & model mass movementsMove Theistareykir gravity infrastructure to Krafla; gravity survey
15Geochemical prospecting and geothermal circulation modelling at KraflaINGVGeochemical prospecting and geothermal circulation modelling; test new instrumentsCO2 flux and T mapping; sampling for CO2 isotopes; CO2 flux monitoring station

Geothermal and Magmatic Systems – Network School on Krafla, (North Iceland)

15 September 2022
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Categories: events
Discussion in front of students’ posters
Discussion in front of students’ posters
Groups of students present and discuss their exercise results
Groups of students present and discuss their exercise results. Chiara Montagna checks, on the left
Visit at the Landsvirkjun/Teistareykir
Visit at the Landsvirkjun/Teistareykir geothermal power station, NW Iceland
Students solving exercises
Students solving exercises on geothermal flow circulation dynamics
The class.
The class during frontal lessons
Crossing the Krafla caldera
Crossing the Krafla caldera
Exercise sessions
Exercise sessions. Groups of students solve exercises on geothermal flow circulation dynamics. Magnus Gudmundsson (left) and Knutur Arnasson (right) stand in the center
American and Eurasian plates
Pàll Einarsson (left) and Freysteinn Sigmundsson (center) giving explanations across the boundary between the American and Eurasian plates (Freysteinn placed on both)

The first network school of the IMPROVE Consortium was held in Laugar, Reykjadalur, in North Iceland, about 30 km west of Krafla on June 11-16, 2022.  The school was a joint venture between IMPROVE and the Nordic Volcanological Center at the Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland. It was attended by 29 young researchers, including all 14 IMPROVE ESRs that had already been appointed, together with 15 other participants from outside of the consortium. The participants are residents of 10 different countries in Europe (Iceland 8, Italy 7, Germany 3, UK 3, Ireland 2, Finland 2, France 1, Spain 1, Denmark 1 and Switzerland 1), and have nationalities spanning from China to US. The majority of participants are presently doing a PhD at their universities, while a few postdoctoral fellows took part as well.

The school focused on the following content:

  • Science and technology: geothermal areas, fluid physics and chemistry, fluid flow circulation.
  • Transferable/soft skills: meeting presentation, public speaking.
  • Non-academic contribution: geothermal exploration, industry-oriented science developments, environmental impact and public perception (LV).

Emphasis was put on addressing the main aspects of young igneous geothermal systems and the links between magma and hydrothermal circulation in volcanic settings, and the methods of geophysics, geochemistry and geological mapping used to study such systems, including various aspects of geothermal exploration. Emphasis was placed on Krafla. Environmental and societal aspects of geothermal utilization were also addressed. Future perspectives were explored with strong input from experts in the geothermal industry, from the two largest companies in geothermal utilization in Iceland: Landsvirkun (LV) and Reykjavík Energy. The school was planned by UI. Members of the organizing committee were Magnús T. Gudmundsson, Freysteinn Sigmundsson, Halldór Geirsson and Rikke Pedersen (NordVulk).  Additional input came from INGV and other members of the consortium.  A five-day program was developed, with about 40% of the time dedicated to lectures, 35% to fieldtrips, and 25% to exercises, active discussion sessions and poster presentations by participants.

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