{"id":35012,"date":"2023-10-27T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/65674420-a9eb-4978-aa9f-869c5d1b9e20"},"modified":"2023-10-27T16:46:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T14:46:17","slug":"eruption-island-inside-icelands-explosive-new-surge-of-volcanic-activity","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/eruption-island-inside-icelands-explosive-new-surge-of-volcanic-activity\/","title":{"rendered":"Eruption Island: Inside Iceland\u2019s explosive new surge of volcanic activity"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland has recently become a hotbed of volcanic activity. Why is this happening, and how worried should we be? <\/p>

By James Cutmore\n <\/p>

Published: Friday, 27 October 2023 at 14:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

After 800 years of calm, it happened: a major series of earthquakes shook the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland, appearing to herald a new period of geological activity in the region. <\/p>

In 2021, this was seemingly confirmed by the eruption of a volcano called Fagradalsfjall \u2013 also the name of the wider volcanic area. Since then, there have been two more instances of volcanic eruptions here, in 2022 and 2023.<\/p>

Due to there being around 30 active volcanic sites in Iceland, the population is used to the site of eruptions in other areas of the country. In fact, away from Reykjanes, one occurs every 3.5 years, on average. Perhaps one of the best-known and most disruptive instances was the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallaj\u00f6kull, which caused the airspace of northern Europe to be closed.<\/p>

Yet, the Reykjanes eruptions could signal a new era. Experts from the Scientific Advisory Board of the Icelandic Civil Protection Group<\/a> predict that these events could signal the start of decades of volcanic activity in the area.<\/p>

“The four volcanic systems of the Reykjanes peninsula are active one after another, with interludes of about 800 years,” explains Thorvaldur Thordarson<\/a>, professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland. “The peninsula is on time for another cycle of eruption”.<\/p>

One of the major concerns is the potential damage to infrastructure that an increase in volcanic activity in the area could cause. Iceland’s main airport Keflavik is only 12km away, while the main road to the airport could be engulfed by a larger future lava flow. Damage to power lines north of Fagradalsfjall volcano could also affect electricity supply to Keflavik if lava were to flow north.<\/p>

Because of the heat from fissures opening up, there is also an increased risk of wildfires<\/a> breaking out in the grasslands, which could reduce air quality. <\/p>

But it is not all bad news. The area has seen a massive increase in tourism, partly due to the proximity to good transport links, and the relative safety of the volcanic activity. <\/p>

The eruptions here are what are known as ‘effusive’, which means that lava comes out from the volcano slowly and predictably \u2013 although there is still some element of risk from toxic gases released during this stunning natural spectacle.<\/p>

One big question is how long might this volcanic activity last. Thordarson believes that there are several scenarios.<\/p>

“My suspicion is that we will at least get one to three more events at Fagradalsfjall over the next two to six years,” he explains. “By the same token, this activity could last for two or three decades, even though I find that scenario to be unlikely”.<\/p>

However long these volcanic events last, scientists believe that the danger of a huge and deadly eruption here is incredibly small. <\/p>

The first eruption of Fagradalsfjall \u2013 March 2021<\/h2>
An aerial view of a pool of lava from the Fagadalsfjall volcano, photographed on 18 May 2021. Photo by Olivier Grunewald<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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The Fagadalsfjall volcano violently erupts and ejects lava high into the air, on 23 May 2021. Photo by Olivier Grunewald<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The first major eruption of the Fagadalsfjall volcano took place between 19 March and 18 September 2021. Fagadalsfjall is just 40km away from the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, which is home to over 355,000 people.<\/p>

Due to its proximity to the capital and ease of access to the site, this volcano has become a popular tourist destination. <\/p>

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Crowds of people watch as pools of lava from the Fagadalsfjall volcano glow red-hot. The proximity of the volcano to the capital city makes the site popular with tourists. Photo by Olivier Grunewald<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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A member of Iceland’s civil defence team installs equipment to monitor seismic activity in the area around Fagradalsfjall. Photo by Olivier Grunewald<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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Aerial view of an area of Fagadalsfjall as volcanic activity in the area subsides, and volcanic fissures start to cool. Photograph taken on 17 September 2021. Photo by Olivier Grunewald<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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Smoke rises from the Fagradalsfjall volcano after volcanic activity subsides. Taken on 14 October 2021. Photo by Olivier Grunewald<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The second eruption of Fagadalsfjall \u2013 August 2022<\/h2>
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Onlookers and tourists watch as lava flows from the volcano in Fagradalsfjall, Iceland, on 10 August 2022. Photo by Jeremie Richard\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The second eruption of volcano Fagradalsfjall started on 3 August 2022 but was much more brief than the event of 2021, ending on 21 August 2022.<\/p>

People were advised to stay away from the eruption by the Icelandic Meteorological Office, but over 1,800 visitors came to the site on the first day alone. <\/p>

The eruption of Litli-Hr\u00fatur\u00a0\u2013 July 2023<\/h2>
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Lava flows from the scene of an eruption from Litli-Hr\u00fatur on 16 July 2023. of Photo by Olivier Grunewald<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The third eruption in the Reykjanes Peninsula started on 10 July 2023, when lava started to emerge from the Litli-Hr\u00fatur crater, part of the Fagradalsfjall volcano system. This eruption was preceded by a series of earthquakes<\/a> that commenced on 4 July 2023.<\/p>

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A close-up view of lava as it flows from the scene of an eruption from Litli-Hr\u00fatur on 16 July 2023. Photo by Olivier Grunewald<\/figcaption><\/figure>

A major road to Reykjavik and all the pipes and cables that connect hot water and electricity to the city were just a short distance to the east of this volcanic activity, but thankfully no infrastructure was damaged. Electricity companies used this latest event to test the potential effects on the electricity network and underground cables.<\/p>

After a couple of weeks of eruptions, this third volcanic event was declared over on 5 August 2023.<\/p>

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An aerial image highlights the amazing pattern of fissures from the latest volcanic eruption, taken on 16 July 2023. Photo by Olivier Grunewald<\/figcaption><\/figure>

About our expert<\/strong><\/h2>

Thorvaldur Thordarson is a professor in Volcanology and Petrology at the University of Iceland. His research, which covers active and ancient volcano systems, has been covered in several journals including Geosciences<\/em>, the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research<\/em>, and Geology<\/em>.<\/p>

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>