Iceland warming up again - quakes swarming

[pinball1970]

The author of the video mentions the volcanic system near Lake Kleifarvatn in the area of Hafnarfjarðarkaupstaður, or along the border with Grindavíkurbær. Is that a dormant set of volcanoes? There seems to be a ridge or two west of Kleifarvatn.

And what of Fagradalsfjall Volcano?

Shawn Willsey mentioned seismic activity there due to the faults but not linked to magma fields from memory.
There are designated danger zones along the fissure and other hazards and Fagradalsfjall volcano and the lake are currently outside those zones to the West( 1-6, Open fissures, magma flow, gases etc)

The video maker thinks there is potential at the lake but I have not seen anything so far from the science updates. He mentioned an "expert" possibly Prof Pordarson? Shawn Willsey says Pordason has "made statements" but not supported them. One was wrt to a movement in the West not the east where the lake/Fagradalsfjall but I would need to revisit the updates.

There is an update at 4pm GMT from Willsey.

 

[pinball1970]

The author of the video mentions the volcanic system near Lake Kleifarvatn in the area of Hafnarfjarðarkaupstaður, or along the border with Grindavíkurbær. Is that a dormant set of volcanoes? There seems to be a ridge or two west of Kleifarvatn.

And what of Fagradalsfjall Volcano?

I asked the question to Shawn Willsey on the live stream in the QnA.



Right now in terms of risk, answer, yes. From eruption is a different question and is not an immediate risk based on seismic data, in terms of eruptions. In terms of what has been happening since 2021 and recently that could change.


EDIT: One thing you may be interested in is the seismic activity represented graphically, prior to the original eruption in 2021 then through to the latest Feb eruptions (sped up many times)

To an untrained eye it made very little sense/no pattern to me apart from increased activity during the eruptions.


Anyway it was interesting listening to the commentary and Prof Willsey view, and the graphics are pretty cool.

It is a long video and those graphics starts bang on 39 minutes if you want to watch that.

He does the Q and A at the end, and he reads out your question from me at 1:23:10 ish, You may prefer to get it from the horses mouth @Astronuc

 

[pinball1970]

Prof Willsey and Prof Pordarson discuss the current situation in Iceland.



0-7.49: Geology, tectonics and volcanic activity of the peninsula and rest of Iceland.

7.49: Current state. Seismic activity related to the eruptions. Different "systems" across Iceland. Comparison to Hawaii.

14.12: Can previous crater systems in the area re-open?

18.20: Rock composition role, bore hole data.

23.57: Reaction to the emergency, mitigation and preparations.

32:40: Iceland volcanic misconceptions and what could happen next.

 

[Astronuc]

Iceland Volcano Update: New Eruption Warning After 'Imminent' Alarm
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/t...tion-warning-after-imminent-alarm/ar-BB1jiwuc

The next eruption would be the fourth on the Reykjanes Peninsula in as many months. Iceland lies on a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic and averages an eruption every five years, but the frequency has increased to about one every 12 months since 2021.

 

[pinball1970]

Update.

"The eruption began after 20:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Saturday, north of Grindavik, according to the country's civil defence service,
This is a similar location to the eruption that began on 8 December."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68589594.amp

 

[nsaspook]

 

[Astronuc]

Update.

"The eruption began after 20:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Saturday, north of Grindavik, according to the country's civil defence service,
This is a similar location to the eruption that began on 8 December."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68589594.amp

Seems to be a monthly occurrence now.

 

[pinball1970]

Seems to be a monthly occurrence now.

That seems to be view and the eruptions are following that pattern. Hopefully the defences they have put in place will hold for now and the infrastructure will not be damaged again.

I need to watch the updates, catch up up on what the next steps will be with the town, roads, pipeline, power plant and Blue Lagoon.
Presumably the defences were not constructed to protects for many months of similar eruptions?

 

[Astronuc]

Reuters - Iceland lava flows slow after fourth eruption since December 2023 - so it seems on a montly cycle now. I wonder if the cycle length will increase with time.

https://www.reuters.com/business/en...er-fourth-eruption-since-december-2024-03-17/

The new fissure extended approximately 1.9 miles (~3 km) long, with lava flowing to both sides, but apparently more to the east away from Grindavik and toward the coast to the south.

In addition to the upheaval of the surrounding ground, I'd be interested in the lateral expansion. Is Iceland growing?

 

[DaveE]

Reuters - Iceland lava flows slow after fourth eruption since December 2023 - so it seems on a montly cycle now. I wonder if the cycle length will increase with time.

https://www.reuters.com/business/en...er-fourth-eruption-since-december-2024-03-17/

The new fissure extended approximately 1.9 miles (~3 km) long, with lava flowing to both sides, but apparently more to the east away from Grindavik and toward the coast to the south.

In addition to the upheaval of the surrounding ground, I'd be interested in the lateral expansion. Is Iceland growing?

Shawn Willsey's YouTube videos often have 3 axis GPS movement data.

 

[nsaspook]

It's still going. Those cones are getting huge.

 

[nsaspook]

 

[nsaspook]

Iceland's Eruption Reaches Three Weeks, Only One Vent Active: Geologist Provides Analysis​

 

[pinball1970]

The cone has been breached. Spectacular images.

 

[nsaspook]

 

[nsaspook]

 

[pinball1970]

Large eruption.



It's live so T minus 3:48:57 is when the smoker appears in two places then camera zooms in a few seconds later.

 

[Flyboy]

https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/volcanic-unrest-grindavik

Initial reports are estimating effusion rates at 1000-2000 m^3/s.

Wow.

 

[Astronuc]

So, the name of the volcano, or volcanic complex is Sundhnúkur.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023–2024_Sundhnúkur_eruptions

As of 16 March 2024, there have been four eruptions between December 2023 and March 2024, following an intense series of earthquakes. Although localised, the seismic and volcanic activity have caused significant disruption across the western part of the peninsula.

The eruptions were preceded by an intense earthquake swarm in the Eldvörp–Svartsengi volcanic system that began on 24 October 2023, caused by a magmatic intrusion underneath the area.

Now, it seems a monthly occurrence.

 

[Astronuc]

Lava spurts from Iceland volcano for second day as its fissure extends 2 miles (3.2 km)
https://apnews.com/article/iceland-...-blue-lagoon-cb86b6852656539c131d8a8c199b05af

https://apnews.com/video/volcanoes-...-earthquakes-5e399c240a4a45d8a1445531238159cd

 

[nsaspook]

 

[Flyboy]

Another one underway.

https://www.reuters.com/business/en...ano-erupts-spewing-lava-fountains-2024-08-22/

 

[Astronuc]

A new volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland has prompted mass evacuations, authorities say. The eruption began on the Sundhnuksgigarod fissure, spewing hot lava into the air and causing considerable seismic activity. The fissure, initially estimated at 1.4 kilometers, extended to 3.9 kilometers within 40 minutes, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. Most of the 4,000 residents of the nearby fishing village of Grindavik had already evacuated last November, and only a few remain overnight due to the frequent eruptions. Despite the volcanic activity, flights to and from Iceland are operating normally, according to Isavia, the national airport service provider.

This is the sixth eruption since December 2023, leading volcanologists to warn of a new era of seismic activity in the region. Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, making it prone to volcanic activity due to the separation of tectonic plate.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/t...n-iceland-prompt-mass-evacuations/vi-AA1piC6V

 

[Astronuc]

A new volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland . . .
https://www.ruv.is/english/2025-04-01-eruption-on-the-reykjanes-peninsula-440282

• A volcanic eruption began just before 9:45 AM.
• This is the eighth eruption in the Sundhnúkur crater row, and the eleventh since the new eruptive phase began on the Reykjanes peninsula in March 2023.

https://apnews.com/article/iceland-...pa-grindavik-8f3a1fe542d1ef7220b88574f0b6b60b

GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano in southwestern Iceland that has erupted repeatedly for more than a year again belched lava and smoke into the air on Tuesday, just hours after authorities evacuated the few remaining residents of a nearby fishing village.

The eruption began at 9:45 a.m. local time (0945 GMT), triggering warning sirens in the town of Grindavik where webcams showed molten rock spewing toward the community. It had subsided by late afternoon, though the volcano was still active, Iceland’s Met Office said.

On 2 April, it appears the activity has diminished.

 

[Astronuc]

Yest another eruption

https://www.foxweather.com/watch/fmc-0avqt6dk65qfxxjg

https://abcnews.go.com/US/icelandic...acuations-nearby-town-blue/story?id=123799133