The eruption in Iceland in 10 questions

earthpressnews
The eruption in Iceland in 10 questions

Since Wednesday August 3, the eruption in Iceland has kept the world in suspense. Spectacular images and videos provide live viewing of the impressive phenomenon currently underway. In ten key points, Futura summarizes the essentials of what you need to know.

1. Where exactly does the eruption take place?

The eruption takes place in the valley of Meradalir. It is located on the Reykjanes peninsula, located just 40 kilometers from the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, in the southwest of the island. But the place of the eruption is also located only a kilometer from the Fagradasfjall volcano, whose eruption in 2021 had lasted six months, from March to September. Before that, there had been no volcanic activity for almost 800 years. The eruption was triggered from a volcanic fissure, from which the wash its breakaway.

2. How did the volcanic eruption start?

The Reykjanes region is located at the level of the separation between the tectonic plates Eurasian and American, where these diverge from each other by about two centimeters per year. the volcanism has therefore been present there for millennia, although for 800 years, no eruption had taken place. In 2020, swarms of earthquakes occurred in this region, when volcanic activity had been absent for 800 years.

This type of seismic activity testifies to a strong geological activity under the ground, and can, among other things, signify the beginnings of a volcanic eruption to come. In 2021, took place theeruption at Fagradasfjall, which lasted six months. Then, Saturday July 30, nearly 10,000 jerks were again detected, including two of a magnitude greater than 5. Precursors of a future eruption, it was only a matter of time before the lava rose to the surface.

3. What type of rash is it?

It is a fissure eruption: lava flows through pre-existing cracks in the Earth’s crust. Unlike the “classic” eruptions that we know, these occur on flat surfaces: no crater or cone from which the lava would leave, let alone an explosion. The cracks are usually a few meters wide or even less, but can reach several kilometers in length. In the case of the current eruption in Iceland, thefissure eruption is about 300 meters long, and the debit of lava reached on August 5, 32 cubic meters per second, four to five times more than during the last eruption in 2021!

4. Is the eruption dangerous for the population?

Currently, no ash cloud like during the eruption of Mount Eyjafjallajokull in 2010. However, this type of eruption produces emissions of carbon dioxideof Hydrogen sulfide and halides, which can be harmful to humans. The dioxide of sulfur particular is particularly dangerous for the respiratory system. As the eruption occurs in an uninhabited valley, it is unlikely to reach towns or villages. Everything depends on the weather conditions which, for the moment, suggest a possible arrival of the gas, in small quantities however, to the capital Reykjavik. L’eruption is therefore not without risks.

5. Will the rash last a long time?

According to the latest measurements taken at the site of the eruption, thevolcanic activity of the crack is already beginning to decrease: its flow rate fell from 32 cubic meters per second to just 18 per second on Thursday. This does not mean that it will stop, only that the flow stabilizes. At present, it is impossible to predict the duration what the current eruption will have, it will all depend on the amount of magma which must come out through the cracks. Many earthquakes continue to occur in this area, suggesting that the phenomenon is far from over.

6. Why are there so many eruptions in Iceland?

The Reykjanes Peninsula lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates diverge. Iceland is also above a hotspot, which incidentally partly formed the country. Volcanic activity never stops in Iceland, so that the country is accustomed to this type of event, with several dozen eruptions per century. On average, an eruption occurs every 4 or 5 years. But this year’s eruption follows the 2021 eruption which lasted six months, and which was in the same region.

7. Can we go and admire the eruption on site?

Numerous videos of people witnessing the eruption live show that it is possible to go directly to the site. However, the greatest caution is necessary, in particular because of the harmful gas emissions from the eruption. Licelandic meteorological institute advises curious walkers venturing near the site of the eruption to always watch it while being back to windin order to avoid the contamination by the gases emitted. He also advises to be at a height in relation to the eruption: ” spectators should climb mountains and ridges and not stay on the slopes above “. Finally, getting there requires a hike of about 90 minutes, recommended only for seasoned walkers, and to be adapted according to the direction of the wind.

8. How do I follow it live remotely?

Futura strives to follow in every detail the evolution of the eruption in Icelandbut a live one is available on Youtube and allows you to see the eruption live!

9. What large-scale consequences?

If we compare to the eruption of 2010, where the Eyjafjallajökull volcano became famous for his explosive eruption who had sent in theatmosphere a huge cloud of smoke in the atmosphere, the current eruption does not represent any danger. Where in 2010 some 100,000 flights were canceled due to ash and smoke in the atmosphere, here the emissions of harmful gases are not in sufficient quantity to bring air traffic to a halt, or to

10. Are other eruptions expected at the same location?

The area in which the eruption is occurring now is the same as last year, suggesting strong volcanic activity. So that a rash triggersit takes a rise of magma in merger coming from terrestrial mantle. This rise is favored in border areas between two plates lithosphericas in the case of Iceland where the Reykjanes region is an area of ​​divergence (or accretion) between two plates.

As said above, the whole region remained inactive for almost 800 years, until 2020 when series of earthquakes took place. So, even if one eruption does not trigger another, having several in the same place in a short time implies that other eruptions could occur soon.

Interested in what you just read?



fs11