2023-12-29 21:26:58
Iceland’s meteorological office has warned of the increasing risk of a second volcanic eruption in the vicinity of the town of Grindavik, on the Reykjanes peninsula, where a volcano already emerged on December 18.
According to the latest weather report“the ground continues to swell in Svartsengi”, and the land has now reached a height similar to that measured just before the last eruption. In similar situations, according to experts, such as in other eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula in recent years, and during the Krafla fires, these indicators were definitive. There remains uncertainty about how much magma pressure must build up before the magma begins to move toward the surface.
There are not so many earthquakes
The current uprising is not accompanied by as much seismic activity as before, because according to experts the eruption a few weeks ago already released significant tension in the area. Therefore, considerably more magma needs to accumulate before seismic activity increases from its current level. “Before the last eruption there were several earthquakes of magnitude greater than 3 and one of magnitude greater than 4,” they point out, which suggests similar seismic activity in relation to the next magma intrusion.
“As the accumulation of magma continues under Svartsengi, the probability of another magma intrusion and an eruption increases with each passing day,” add the meteorologists, who consider that the next eruption will most likely occur in Sundhnúkur, between Stóra-Skógfell and Hagafell. It is important to note that magma intrusions do not always lead to an eruption, as demonstrated by the activity in Fagradalsfjall and the Krafla fires.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has published an updated hazard map, based on joint interpretation of data at a status meeting today. In the assessment changes have been made to the list of potential hazards within the Grindavík area, where risks have been added due to possible lava flows and gas pollution. The changes are due to the increased chances of an eruption north of Grindavík. This hazard map will be revised on January 5, 2024.
Meanwhile, the IMO continues to monitor the area and any changes will be communicated directly to civil protection through the usual communication channels.
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