jökulhlaup
Volcanic glacier flood
A jökulhlaup is a sudden, catastrophic flood caused by water bursting from beneath or within a glacier.
The Icelandic term—literally "glacier run"—names a phenomenon common in Iceland, where volcanic heat melts ice and builds subglacial lakes that eventually breach their ice dams.
These floods can release millions of tons of water in hours, reshaping landscapes and destroying infrastructure: The jökulhlaup swept away the bridge.
Sudden emotional release
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
- torrentViolent rushing flow
- surgeSudden powerful increase
flash flood · sediment · debris flow · downstream · discharge · streamflow · erosion · fluvial
Slow-moving ice mass
- subglacialBeneath a glacier
- icecapPermanent polar covering
- meltwaterWater from melted ice
- ice damFrozen roof-edge barrier
glacial lake · crevasse · moraine · firn · calving · ablation · cryosphere · glaciology
Sudden emotional release
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- catastrophicCausing complete destruction
- cataclysmViolent, large-scale disaster
- surgeSudden powerful increase
explosive · unpredictable · rapid onset · warning systems · evacuation · hazard · disaster · emergency
Violent sudden release
- geothermalRelating to underground heat
- magmaMolten rock underground
- volcanic ashFragmented rock from eruptions
- laharVolcanic debris flow
pyroclastic · crater lake · fissure · caldera · volcanic heat · tephra
outburst
Sudden emotional release
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
- torrentViolent rushing flow
surge · flash flood · sediment · debris flow · downstream · discharge · streamflow · erosion · fluvial · alluvium
glacier
Slow-moving ice mass
- subglacialBeneath a glacier
- icecapPermanent polar covering
- meltwaterWater from melted ice
ice dam · glacial lake · crevasse · moraine · firn · calving · ablation · cryosphere · glaciology · icefield
outburst
Sudden emotional release
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- catastrophicCausing complete destruction
- cataclysmViolent, large-scale disaster
surge · explosive · unpredictable · rapid onset · warning systems · evacuation · hazard · disaster · emergency · monitoring
eruption
Violent sudden release
- geothermalRelating to underground heat
- magmaMolten rock underground
- volcanic ashFragmented rock from eruptions
lahar · pyroclastic · crater lake · fissure · caldera · volcanic heat · tephra