ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

1996 eruption of Gjálp

In 1996, there was a big explosion in a place called Gjálp. This is a part of Iceland where there is a big ice glacier that sits on top of a volcano. This volcano is called Grímsvötn, and it is located deep below the ice.

Sometimes, the volcano can get very active and explode. When it does explode, it sends hot melted rock and gas out of the ground. This can cause a lot of damage to the area around it.

In 1996, the Grímsvötn volcano erupted and created a big hole in the ice. This hole was called the Gjálp Crater. When the volcano erupted, it sent out a lot of hot melted rock and ash. This made the Gjálp Crater even bigger, and caused a lot of damage to the ice and the area around it.

The eruption of Gjálp in 1996 was a very unique event because it happened under the ice. When the melted rock and gas came out of the ground, it melted a lot of the ice around it. This created a huge flood that rushed down the rivers around Gjálp.

The flood was so strong that it destroyed a lot of the bridges and roads in the area. It also caused a lot of damage to the plants and animals that lived nearby.

Scientists are still studying the eruption of Gjálp in 1996 to learn more about how volcanoes and glaciers interact with each other. They hope that by understanding more about these types of events, they can better predict when they might happen in the future and keep people safe.