Iceland’s nervous wait ended after a powerful earthquake, caused by magma rising to the surface, began at 9pm on Monday.
Just over an hour later, scores of webcams monitoring the area were broadcasting spectacular images of the eruption around the world. The reflection of erupting magma and flowing lava against the backdrop of toxic gas clouds creates a bright and captivating orange-red glow. I wanted to sleep, but I couldn’t.
My reaction was mixed. It was a great relief that the volcano did not erupt near the town of Grindavik, which was suddenly evacuated on November 10th. There is satisfaction in knowing that the Icelandic scientists were right, as they had consistently stated that if an eruption occurred, the evidence would clearly point to that location. The scientific curiosity is that this outbreak occurred in a different location than the three outbreaks from 2021-2023. And amazement at the beautiful pictures.
I was impressed by the length of the canyon from which the magma erupted (about four kilometers), as well as the height of the fiery fountains, the highest of which I estimated at 120-150 meters.
With Keflavik International Airport just 15km away and open, passengers flying in and out of Iceland on Monday and while the eruption lasts will be able to enjoy unforgettable views in good weather. Lava-dominated eruptions like this one don’t produce much ash, so local airports usually remain open and there are no ash clouds to affect international airspace.
Now we wait to see what will develop in the coming days. The routes the lava will take are a major concern. This is extremely important as there is a possibility that lava will flow towards Grindavik and damage houses and infrastructure.
It is also possible that lava is flowing towards a large geothermal power plant, although construction of a protective surrounding dam (dam) is nearing completion. This was a wise, if controversial, decision by the Icelandic government. Further, important roads may be cut off, including communication between the capital region and the international airport.
The eruption occurred at the northern end of a 15-kilometer underground fissure filled with magma (what geologists call a dam) that suddenly formed on November 10 and led to the sudden evacuation of Grindavik as the southern part passed under the city. After this it became quieter and residents were allowed to return during the day. The apparent calm has led to increased and understandable pressure from displaced residents to return. One of them risked arrest by saying he wanted to stay overnight because he thought it was safe.
For me, the strangest and most amazing oddity of this eruption is that the 15 km long dam formed differently from the dam that fed the nearby “tourist” eruptions in 2021, 2022 and 2023 at Fagradalsfjall.
The magma that formed the dyke that fed this eruption moved laterally on November 10 from an accumulation zone approximately 2 km away, while the dyke that fed the Fagradalsfjall eruptions rose from the depths. It is alarming that magma can make such unexpected lateral movements, especially in areas with settlements and vital infrastructure such as power plants.
The strength and activity of the eruption has already decreased, but this is normal, because such eruptions are usually most energetic at first, then enter a stable phase and finally die down.
How long will the outbreak last and will there be another outbreak? Fagradalsfjall’s eruptions provide a clue. All three were fed by the same dam, and each was smaller than the other. The first outbreak in 2021 was the largest and lasted about five and a half months. In other parts of Iceland we saw a similar pattern: multiple eruptions fueled by a single dike, the first of which was the largest.
But this eruption started out much more violently than any of the 2021-2023 eruptions, with a rift more than four times longer and a much larger magma outpouring. We are awaiting estimates from Icelandic scientists about how much lava is flowing in the landscape.
It remains to be seen whether the unusual mode of formation of this dyke will result in a one-off and short-lived eruption, or whether the flow of magma into the dyke will continue, which could lead to future eruptions.
The eruption appears to be just the latest chapter in a story of volcanic activity that is likely to continue for decades in this part of Iceland.
Dr Dave McGarvey is a volcanologist at Lancaster University who has worked in Iceland and Chile.
Source: I News
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.