Live
Latest updates on the volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, which began erupting on Monday (Dec. 18) north of the small fishing village of Grindavík following weeks of localised earthquakes and sinkholes.
When you purchase through link on our internet site , we may earn an affiliate commission . Here ’s how it works .
This live web log has now ended
A vent in Iceland is now erupting after weeks of earthquake shake the region , according to astatementreleased by the Iceland Met Office on Monday ( Dec. 18 ) .
The country has been bracing itself for animminent volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsulafor weeks . Grindavík , a small fishing town in the southwest corner of the island with a population of around 2,800 people , had previously been empty in November after a sinkhole measuring 3.2 substructure ( 1 meter ) late appeared in the town .
seismal bodily function began increase in the area around the Fagradalsfjall vent on Oct. 25 , when more than 1,000 earthquakes north of Grindavík occurred in the space of just hour . Two unassailable earthquakes , value magnitudes 3.9 and 4.5 , shoot at a profoundness of around 3 Admiralty mile ( 5 kilometers ) . Over the following two weeks , seismic action go on , with 100 of earthquakes and intoxicate recorded each day , indicating that magma was accumulate beneath the soil .
Timeline of upshot :
Cracks and sinkholes have formed in the Icelandic town of Grindavík
LIVE: Latest Updates
‘Time’s finally up’: Impending Iceland eruption is part of centuries-long volcanic pulse
Iceland ’s potentially at hand eruption in the Reykjanes Peninsula is part of a 1,000 - twelvemonth oscillation of volcanic action that will belike cause eruptions for centuries , scientist say .
" Time ’s finally up,“Edward W. Marshall , a investigator at the University of Iceland ’s Nordic Volcanological Center , tell Live Science in an email . " We can get quick for another few hundred years of irruption on the Reykjanes . "
seismal activity commence increasing in the Confederate States of America of the peninsula in October , with hundred ofearthquakesrecorded there each day . On Nov. 10 , authorities evacuated the township of Grindavík , with expert discourage an volcanic eruption could take space in just sidereal day .
The Svartsengi geothermal power plant is located very near to where the eruption may occur.
800 earthquakes recorded since midnight
Around 800 quake have been recorded since midnight , Nov. 15 . Most hit at the center of the magma dike , allot to atranslated statement from the IMO .
The continue ground contortion is likely being due to magma flowing into the dike , expert say
" Part of the magma dam seems to be solidify , especially at the edges , but not at the magma influx expanse , which is think to be near Sundhnúk , " according to the statement . " The probability of an eruption is still considered high . In the issue of an eruption , the most probable fix is at the magma dike . "
Officials scramble to protect vital power plant from imminent lava flows
On Tuesday ( Nov. 14 ) , Icelandic authorities started create makeshift defenses to protect the Svartsengi geothermal power plant from lava flow that may emerge if the magma butch erupts over the next few days , Reuters news means reported .
The Svartsengi plant uses high temperature from the hugger-mugger magma in the neighborhood to inflame water and turn turbine . It is turn up around 4 mile ( 6 kilometre ) from Grindavík , which has been evacuate over fears of the imminent eruption , and supplies power across the country , as well as red-hot water to the local region .
Workers have begin compass out channels to hive off the lava away from the industrial plant if molten rock heads in that way .
Why is Iceland so volcanically active? A geologist explains.
Iceland ’s volcanic natural action is in the main tamed equate with volatile eructation along the Pacific ’s Ring of Fire . Jaime Toro , Professor of Geology at West Virginia University , explains what the main causes for volcanic bodily process in the region are , and what effect this has on volcanic eruption .
" The result has two part — one has to do with what geologist prosaically call a hot spot , and the other involves gargantuan architectonic plates that arepulling apart right beneath the island . "
What will the imminent volcanic eruption in Iceland really look like?
Experts have discourage that an underground magma tunnel between a pair of Icelandic townspeople could break out at any second . Butwhat will this bam look like ? And how far - reaching will its effects be ?
Could scientists artificially trigger the eruption safely?
There have been no new reports from the IMO since yesterday ( Nov. 15 ) of any further earthquakes or the likelihood of an bang , and as such the situation remains unchanged .
But would it be possible to untimely trigger the upcoming eruption by drilling into the magma butch beneath the surface , potentially helping to check where the lava run out of the ground ? We asked an expert , who tell us that it probably could n’t work .
" I am not certain that it is technically possible,“Benjamin Andrews , a geologist at the Smithsonian Institute ’s National Museum of Natural account and manager of the institute ’s Global Volcanism Program , told Live Science .
If an eruption takes place, it is most likely to be north of Grindavík, near Hagafell, IMO representatives wrote in a statement.
The magma in the dyke is very sticky and would not be able to flow through a narrow opening , Andrews said . So " a very large hole would need to be bored for the magma to fall through . " With magma reach temperaturesbetween 2,000 and 2,200 Fahrenheit(1,100 to 1,200 stage Celsius ) , any boring equipment would also probably be destroyed by the molten rock-and-roll , he added .
Even if an eruption could be artificially touch off , this character of geoengineering resolution is also " pregnant from a effectual and ethical standpoint , " Andrews said .
Eruption still likely in next few days, experts say
An bam is still probable to take piazza over the coming days , expert have order . Kristín Jónsdóttir , programme director for earthquake monitoring at the Icelandic Meteorological Office , secern Iceland ’s national broadcasting serve RÚV that the chance of an eruption is not decreasing and seismal activity is being monitored closely .
She read the only experience they have is the 2021 eruption of Fagradalsfjall . In this upshot , tens of grand of earthquakes were recorded in the calendar week leading up to the eruption .
According to anupdated statement from the IMO , 2,000 earthquakes have been recorded in the region in the last 24 hours . Ground distortion is ongoing , although its pace is slow down . If an eruption does take office , it is most likely to be northward of Grindavík , near Hagafell .
Map showing the magma dike and the areas that could be impacted if a volcanic eruption takes place, including the Svartsengi power plant, the Blue Lagoon and the town of Grindavík.
" There is still a mellow chance of a volcanic eruption , " representative publish .
Lava could reach the Blue Lagoon and Svartsengi power plant in days
If the magma dyke beneath Iceland ’s Reykjanes Peninsula burst out , lava flows could quick reach the Blue Lagoon repair and the Svartsengi geothermal power plant life .
Magma is presently estimated to be 2,600 to 1,640 feet ( 800 to 500 m ) below the aerofoil and the rate of inflow to the dike appear to be constant , meaning the risk of outbreak is still very gamy .
" If magma inflow continues at a constant rate for an extended period , I imagine the butch will turn and reach the surface in the coming twenty-four hour period or weeks,“Alberto Caracciolo , a researcher at the University of Iceland ’s Institute of Earth Sciences , differentiate Live Science in an email .
Map showing the zones at risk from a volcanic eruption in Iceland.
" The extent of lava flow will vary depending on the specific location where the scissure opens , on the magma output charge per unit and on the continuance of the eruption , " he said . " However , in most of the scenarios , lava could reach the superpower plant and the Blue Lagoon very quickly , in less than [ a ] few 24-hour interval . A similar fate is likely expected for Grindavík , peculiarly if the chap open up in the southernmost part of Hagafell . "
Iceland vent could burst like a ‘ fizzing drink ’ , with lava touch Blue Lagoon resort in days
Land at Svartsengi power plant rising at a faster rate
Thorvaldur Thordarson , a volcanologist at the University of Iceland , has say the pace of upthrust around the Svartsengi office flora , which feed the nearby Blue Lagoon spa resort , is now fast than it was before Nov. 10 , when a magma dike formed beneath the ground in the south of Reykjanes Peninsula .
" This goes bridge player in hand as the magma is produce distance and raise the Earth’s surface of the earth up , " he enjoin theIceland Monitor , according to a translation .
Thordason told Iceland ’s national broadcasterRUVthat the country around Svartsengi initially fell around 15 inch ( 40 centimeters ) , but it is now almost back to its previous storey . " When it contact a similar degree as it reached before November 10 , you’re able to expect something to encounter , " he said , fit in to a rendering .
Freysteinn Sigmundsson , a geophysicist at the University of Iceland , enjoin the most likely explanation for the upheaval was magma flow into the neighborhood . Hetold the Iceland Monitorthat what happens next depends on how much the magma moves and how tight , contribute that the succession of effect take place is similar to what go on before the eruption ofFagradalsfjall in 2021 — except in this effect the magma was much deeper .
" Then I think an eruption over the current magma tunnel is the most likely scenario . "
accord to RUV , 460 earthquakes have been recorded at the magma dike since midnight .
A sinkhole in the town of Grindavík that appeared on Nov. 18, 10 days after the town was evacuated.
Danger zone from impending eruption has expanded
A young mapping exhibit the areas experts believe are at greatest endangerment from the impend volcanic clap has been liberate by representative with the IMO .
In atranslated statement , they write that Modern satellite picture bear witness Svartsengi and the magma dike mean the " danger geographical zone has been dilate . "
The zones at greatest danger let in Hagafell , which is about midway along the 9.3 mile ( 15 kilometer ) magma dike , to the northwestward of Grindavík . This region is turn over to be the most likely place for an eruption to occur . Grindavík is localise in the red zona , which means there is a peril of a chap opening at short bill and discharge lava , but the risk of infection is smaller than in the purple geographical zone .
Local residents were able to watch smoke billow out from the eruption just north of Grindavík as lava colored the night sky orange.
Svartsengi in the north is at risk of experiencing earthquakes .
Weather to impact monitoring
Earthquake activity along the magma dike appear to have send away slightly compare with recent daylight . However , this may be the final result of strong winds touch the sensitivity of seismal instruments , making it difficult to detect the minuscule earthquakesaccording to the IMO .
" The effectiveness of this monitoring depends on the good sensibility of seismal and real - time GPS mensuration , but the sensitiveness is highly drug-addicted on weather conditions , " IMO representatives wrote in a translate statement . inviolable wind and rain are expected for the next two day , mean real - sentence monitoring will be reduced .
expert " will continue to monitor the expanse as well as potential and incessantly reevaluate and interpret the data point that is received . "
An Icelandic hazard assessment map posted on Dec. 8 showing what is now the central zone of the erupting volcano fissure (in orange). (Image credit: IMO)
What are the signs an eruption is just about to happen?
What will happen just before a chap appears at the surface is presently unclear — although the presence of gases like sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide would indicate magma is close to the surface . Increased seismic activity could also suggest heightened activeness beneath the ground .
" Another sudden addition in magnitude and turn of earthquakes would be a bad sign,“Jaime Toro , prof of geology at the West Virginia University , told Live Science in an electronic mail . " Also , carry on ground deformation , increase of Earth’s surface heat flow , gas emission . In other words , the thing that are happening . "
Ármann Höskuldsson , a volcanologist with the University of Iceland ’s Nordic Volcanological Center , told Live Science in an email that low - frequency seism would be a revealing sign , as it would propose CO2 has started to fly the coop the magma .
A satellite image acquired in the early hours of Tuesday (Dec. 19) shows the new eruptive fissure (yellow line) and lava flow (colored area).
Earthquake activity is also associated with the crusade of magma . However , before the eruptions at the nearby Fagradalsfjall volcano , seismic activity appeared to unload off before a fissure appeared . " There was a silent spot before magma pass the surface and erupted,“Dave McGarvie , a volcanologist at Lancaster University in the U.K. , who learn Iceland ’s vent , told Live Science in an electronic mail .
Whether this would happen again is unknown , however .
McGarvie also say the presence of gas would likely be a precursor to an clap . " If there was an extensive accelerator pedal monitoring meshwork then one sign would be a noticeable passing water of magmatic sulfur dioxide from a specific area , as this would indicate magma turn out to the surface and so this could be a web site for a possible eruption , " he said .
The eruption in Iceland began on Dec. 18 after weeks of unrest.
Live stream shows earthquake activity at center of danger zone
Live data from a seismal monitoring place near Hagafell — the spot expert call back the volcanic volcanic eruption is most likely to take place — is showing current quake activity , which may indicate if magma is strike nearer to the surface for an irruption to take position .
It is just a little sample of the ten of yard of earthquakes that have go on along a stretching of the Reykjanes Peninsula in late week .
The feed , from the University of Cambridge Volcano Seismology Group , shows earthquake being recorded at the Melhóll seismic station , which sits almost now above the magma dam . wave show the three axes of the seismograph : up / down , north / south and east / west motions .
People view the volcano in south west Iceland, which has erupted after weeks of intense earthquake activity.
While an eruption could take place anywhere along the dike , the most likely berth for an outbreak is likely around Hagafell , about 1.2 miles ( 2 kilometer ) due north west of Grindavík , according to the IMO .
‘It may take more time’: Risk of eruption from Iceland volcano still high, with ground ‘continuing to swell’
The risk of a volcanic eruption on Iceland ’s Reykjanes Peninsula is still very gamey , with basis deformation and earthquakes continue along the magma dyke — a near - vertical belowground burrow running from a magma chamber towards Earth ’s surface .
In an interview with mbl.isthe same day , Benedikt Gunnar Ófeigsson , head of contortion mensuration at the IMO , said the risk of outbreak may slowly be decreasing . " If we look at the term in the magma burrow , maybe the chance of eruption is slowly decreasing , " he said . " But it is far too early to find out that hypothesis . "
action at the magma scheme would require to cease for the eruption jeopardy to be lowered . And this is not the case .
The town of Grindavík, pictured here, is around 1.8 miles from the erupting volcano.
" I do n’t reckon that the risk of exposure of an eruption is starting to fall,“Bill McGuire , emeritus prof of Earth sciences at University College London in the U.K , told Live Science in an email . " In fact , GPS data show that the soil aerofoil in the vicinity of the faulting is continue to intumesce , which is likely triggered by the continued emplacement of magma at shallow depth . In add-on , hundred of land tremors are still happening every day . "
Edward W. Marshall , a investigator at the University of Iceland ’s Nordic Volcanological Center , also say the risk of eruption is still high . " In Grindavík now , it is less than two weeks since dike injectant , " Marshall told Live Science in an e-mail . " So it may take more clip . The spot is that the soonest possible scenario that an eruption would be delegate ' unconvincing ' is in a week or two . But I call up this installment will more in all probability go on longer . "
Icelandic authorities consider pumping water to control lava flow in case of eruption
Icelandic authority have declare they are considering plans to pump water onto the lava in the result of avolcanic clap on the country ’s southerly Reykjanes Peninsula . This could avail cool down the lava flow and control its reckon spread towards the town of Grindavík , which was evacuated on Nov. 10 . The method acting could also aid in protecting authoritative infrastructure at risk from the at hand eruption , representativestold Agence France - Presse ( AFP ) .
" An assessment technological squad will arrive in Iceland tonight or tomorrow aurora and they will assist us in value the possibilities,“Víðir Reynisson , Iceland ’s head of civil protection and emergency direction , told AFP on Wednesday ( Nov. 22 ) .
A high volume pee pump was successfully used in 1973 to manage the spread of lava that erupted from a crevice on the island of Heimaey , off the southerly seacoast of Iceland .
Current hazard map showing the areas at risk from the Iceland volcano (in Icelandic)
" This dyke has been slowly expanding in the last calendar week but has not reached the surface yet,“Pȧll Einarsson , an emeritus professor of geophysical science at the University of Iceland , told Live Science in an email . " It is by no mean sure that it will leave in an eruption , but the possibility must be consider , in fussy because the dike lies underneath the townsfolk of Grindavík . "
Fewer seism have been recorded in recent days compare to when the risk of an bam was first annunciate , harmonize to the Icelandic Meteorological Office(IMO ) . But " weather and waving continue to affect the sensitiveness of the system to detect the little earthquakes , " IMO representatives wrote in the interpret argument on Wednesday . " As distortion , seismic activity , and inflow into the magma tunnel go on to minify , the likeliness of an eruption decreases over sentence . "
The likelihood of a sudden outbreak within the township limit of Grindavík is now considered low , they bestow . It is unclear when resident will be provide to return .
Risk of eruption appears to be decreasing
The risk of a volcanic eruption on Iceland ’s Reykjanes Peninsula now appear to be decreasing , according to the IMO . In atranslated statement , representatives write that seismic natural process in the part has extend to lessen since Nov. 20 . And while ground deformation is still being memorialise around the Svartsengi mogul plant , it is retard . The influx of magma to the dyke is also fall .
Since midnight on Friday ( Nov. 24 ) , around 300 seism have been recorded near the magma dike , with most smaller than magnitude 1 .
The fall in seismal activity , magma influx and ground contortion means the likeliness of an extravasation is decreasing , representatives indite .
" If magma influx into the dam point or shorten significantly , the dyke will slowly cool down down , crystallize and solidify at depth,“Alberto Caracciolo , a investigator at the University of Iceland ’s Institute of Earth Sciences , told Live Science in an e-mail . " A dike with no inflow of fresh magma would solidify in a few years . It is potential that the dyke is currently slowly solidify , hence the [ smaller ] number of earthquakes . "
Iceland volcano erupts as thousands of people evacuate
TheIceland volcano is now eruptingafter weeks of earthquakes rock the region , according to astatementreleased by the Iceland Met Office on Monday ( Dec. 18 ) .
The volcanic eruption is chance on the country ’s southwestern Reykjanes peninsula . About 4,000 hoi polloi were empty from Grindavik , a sportfishing townspeople small town on the peninsula , and authorities also closed the township ’s Blue Lagoon geothermal spa , allot toReuters .
" An outbreak has started north of Grindavík , " agree to the Met Office ’s statement . " It can be envision on webcam and seems to be locate near to Hagafell , about 3 km [ 1.8 miles ] north of Grindavík . The eruption begin at 22.17 [ 5:17 p.m. EST Eastern Time ] following the quake swarm that started around 21 . "
Volcano opens up fissure that stretches 2.5 miles
The volcano erupting on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland has opened a 2.5 - mile - long ( 4 km ) fissure , officials say .
The northern end of the fissure is site just east of Stóra - Skógfell and its southern tip extends to a compass point just east of Sundhnúk , which sit down less than 2 nautical mile away from Grindavík , the Icelandic Met Office ( IMO ) say in a translatedstatementon Tuesday ( Dec. 19 ) .
" The great power of the eruption that start about four hour ago seems to be decreasing , " IMO representatives write in the statement . " The fact that the activity is already reducing is not an indicant of how long the eruption will last , but rather that the eruption is strive equilibrium . This tendency has been seen at the commencement of all the eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula in late years . "
Volcanic fissure has now stabilized
The earthquake have now go down , suggesting the fissure has steady with a " curtain " of magma erupting from it .
" The eruption rate is likely to be in the part of a few hundred three-dimensional metres of lava per second — enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool in about 20 seconds,“David Pyle , a professor of Earth sciences at the University of Oxford in the U.K. , recount Live Science in an email . " The length of the fissure may be an indication of how much magma had been able to conglomerate in the insolence over the preceding few weeks . "
It ’s potential the blast will continue for some day , Pyle said .
Eruption diminishes as fissure contracts
The size of the eruption on Iceland ’s Reykjanes peninsula continues to diminish , with small natural process enter at the southerly end of the new opened fissure .
" The lava menstruum is forecast to be about one - quarter of what it was at the beginning of the eruption on 18 December , and a third of the original fissure is active , " IMO illustration say in astatement . A curtain of lava erupting from the 2.5 - mile - long fissure has also decreased in size compare to its apex pinnacle of 100 foot ( 30 meters ) at the start of the eruption , the statement said .
Less than 24 hour have run short by since the start of the eruption , but the fissure may already be sign on to form item-by-item vents . Five such vent have been place , spokesperson enounce , with lava mainly flow Orient toward Fagradalsfjall . The steering of the lava flow is show in the map above , which is based on planet paradigm take in the early hours of Tuesday .
Breathtaking photos show wall of lava
The seismic activity on Iceland ’s Reykjanes Peninsula finally erupted in spectacular fashion on Monday ( Dec. 18 ) , when a fissure stretching 2.5 miles ( 4 kilometre ) appeared at the aerofoil and spew a wall of lava up to 100 feet ( 30 meters ) high in some places .
The initial eruption see Brobdingnagian measure of liquefied stone released into the surrounding landscape , with shade of orange and ruby filling the sky while glowing lava creep across the jolting landscape . These have been captured in unbelievable photos taken since the volcano combust , a option of which can be seen below .
For more , check out our veranda feature even morepictures of the Iceland volcano .
“Tongue of lava” is flowing to the west
The eruption at Sundhnúkagígar is ongoing , with lava honk from two of the original five crater that emerged Monday , according to atranslated statementfrom the IMO on Wednesday . The most active of these two is the southernmost crater .
As well as flowing to the east , a " tongue of lava " is also flowing to the west . In total , the lava bed that has form covers an area of 1.4 hearty miles ( 3.7 square kilometers ) . Over the last 24 hour , 80 low earthquakes have been show — a pregnant decline liken to the day and weeks leading up to the eruption .
A unexampled hazard map released by the IMO on Tuesday ( Dec. 19 ) shows the realm at risk from the lava flowing from a volcanic fissure that appeared Monday ( Dec. 18 ) . The bam , which start out at Sundhnúksgígar at 10:17 p.m. local time , followed an intense earthquake horde that shake up the earth just over an hour earlier .
While IMO representative allege the eruption is weakening , the risk of infection posed by the lava stay on . The late risk map added two new sphere to the risk zone . The sphere in purplish show the domain where the chap seem . To the left , the arena around the Svartsengi force plant and Blue Lagoon refuge are at risk of tornado appearing and lava menses , while Grindavík , in the red geographical zone to the south , is also at risk from hazardous gas , earthquakes and lava .
" chance are only valuate within these domain , but hazards may scupper outside them , " representatives write in a translated program line . " Conditions inside and outside the area are open to modification at poor notice . "
agree to the IMO , there is a keep risk of further extravasation at the original crack , and to the N and south .
Risk of sudden eruption near Grindavík diminished
The likelihood that a volcanic fissure on Iceland ’s Reykjanes Peninsula will give rise to a new eruption near the small fishing town of Grindavík has minify , along with the risk of exposure of new lava flows , according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office ( IMO ) .
" In the last 24 hours , the high activity in the eruption has remained around the middle of the fissure that open on 18 December , " IMO representatives said in astatementon Wednesday . Seismic activity has been relatively steady since the eruption began on Monday , they say , and basis contortion around the fissure has stay minimal .
A endangerment judgement single-valued function free on Wednesday puff a red geographical zone around Grindavík , meaning the townspeople was at risk from hazardous accelerator , earthquakes and lava . But the hazard of new eruptions has decrease and lava flows from the crevice ’s crater now seem to have ceased .
" The bodily process appears to have decrease late last night or very early this morning , " representatives said on Thursday . " However , it is still possible that lava is flowing in closed channels , so it is premature to declare the blast over . "
