[News] Area of Iceland being torn apart by volcanic activity

[fly high]

Iceland volcanic eruption still likely, say scientists

Residents of a fishing port remain on edge as scientists say a volcanic eruption is still imminent.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reykjanes Peninsula home of the Fagradalsfjall volcano is having hundreds of minor earth quakes with roads & houses being ripped apart. Icelandic scientists are predicting a major eruption any time. We are so lucky not to have to worry about such things.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

If you want to watch it unfold - try here

 

[fly high]

If you want to watch it unfold - try here

Thanks for posting that, it was very interesting.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

I'm still amazed that Iceland is mainly green and Greenland is mostly ice!

 

[happypig]

I'm still amazed that Iceland is mainly green and Greenland is mostly ice!

And Great Britain is a bit shit

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

Iceland volcanic eruption still likely, say scientists

Residents of a fishing port remain on edge as scientists say a volcanic eruption is still imminent.

www.bbc.co.uk

We are so lucky not to have to worry about such things.

You say that, but if we do not know how bad this eruption could be and how dark the sky will become, it was not long ago flights were cancelled. A bad eruption could have a catastrophic affect on the world.

 

[Zeberdi]

I don’t think Iceland is being ‘torn apart’ by earthquakes in any area yet so a little hyperbole in the thread title (but I clicked it so it worked ) - so far the capital has not been effected - all these bar one larger quake are a swarm of mini-quakes, only 3 are over 3 mag, the largest being 3.8 on Monday afaics. They are almost certainly an indication of a potential major volcanic eruption (unlike hopefully the Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula which erupted in 2021 and 2022 again or devastating Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010 though) but very worrying from the point of view of local air travel, tourism and farming in the area requiring large areas of evacuation of both livestock and villages.

Reykjanes peninsula - earthquakes during the last 48 hours (Preliminary results) | Reykjanes peninsula | Icelandic Meteorological office

Iceland Meteorological office - Earthquakes, Reykjanes peninsula, North Atlantic

en.vedur.is

On average, Iceland has around 500 earthquakes a week, or about 26000 every year. The country is in effect bisected by a 2 major tectonic plates - the North American and Eurasian so there’s continuous movement.

Thinking about it, it must be a bit like sitting in top of a tumble drier at the moment!

 

[Papa Lazarou]

You say that, but if we do not know how bad this eruption could be and how dark the sky will become, it was not long ago flights were cancelled. A bad eruption could have a catastrophic affect on the world.

This eruption if / when it occurs will be a fissure or spatter cone eruption with quite fluid lava, not too much gas and not too much explosivity, which would mean less threat to flights etc.

When the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in 2010 it was a Stratovolcano type, with are relatively explosive and tend to throw a lot of dust / ash high into the atmosphere.

The only risk with the volcanoes on the Reykjanes peninsula is if the eruption occurs on the coast or in the sea, as they water content will make it more explosive and generate more ash.

 

[Mr Bridger]

A mate of mine came back from there on Monday having spent 4 days there. I asked him about it and he said the locals are not fussed about it, they always have earth tremors.

 

[Stat Brother]

If I've learned anything today it's that throwing stuff in the air will end badly.

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

This eruption if / when it occurs will be a fissure or spatter cone eruption with quite fluid lava, not too much gas and not too much explosivity, which would mean less threat to flights etc.

When the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in 2010 it was a Stratovolcano type, with are relatively explosive and tend to throw a lot of dust / ash high into the atmosphere.

The only risk with the volcanoes on the Reykjanes peninsula is if the eruption occurs on the coast or in the sea, as they water content will make it more explosive and generate more ash.

Could it potentially trigger other seismic activity on the numerus other volcanos or fault lines in the area ?

 

[Zeberdi]

Some good background so far

What's the situation on Reykjanes? Is there another eruption?

Iceland is getting ready for its next eruption. Located on the Reykjanes peninsula, the next eruption may impact the Blue Lagoon...

www.icelandreview.com

“As always, volcanic activity is difficult to predict. As the last eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula have shown, Iceland has some of the best-monitored volcanoes in the world, but despite this, when, where, and if an eruption will occur can be difficult to say with precision, even for experts. With that warning out of the way, here’s what we know so far about the latest phase of seismic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula.”

 

[macbeth]

sticking £50 now on our marquee club-record january signing falling through due a volcanic eruption stopping flights, only for them to sign elsewhere and go on to win several ballon d’ors

 

[vegster]

You say that, but if we do not know how bad this eruption could be and how dark the sky will become, it was not long ago flights were cancelled. A bad eruption could have a catastrophic affect on the world.

Indeed you are correct. There's a rather large Magma plume under Yosemite Park which has, historicly, blown on a regular basis...if we get a bad one next time it's the Dark Ages again for us.

 

[Zeberdi]

Some excellent expert volcanologists on the case here

expert reaction to Fagradalsfjall volcano eruption concerns | Science Media Centre

“It’s currently unclear how large a potential eruption might be, though the characteristics of the intense earthquake swarm that has been affecting the area suggest that the total volume of magma is much larger than in 2021 or 2022. This does raise the concern of more widespread impacts, such as occurred in 2010 as a result of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. During that, enormous volumes of fine ash were ejected into the atmosphere …. but this is very unlikely “

 

[LamieRobertson]

You say that, but if we do not know how bad this eruption could be and how dark the sky will become, it was not long ago flights were cancelled. A bad eruption could have a catastrophic affect on the world.

Now now you know what happened last night when you said Horsham were tosh

 

[Official Old Man]

If it's going to blow, and stop all flights for a week, please wait until 15:00 30th November.
Except I'll probably get a ban for not attending Chelsea.

 

[vegster]

If it's going to blow, and stop all flights for a week, please wait until 15:00 30th November.
Except I'll probably get a ban for not attending Chelsea.

Mrs V is currently in Lanzarote with her family on hols...coming back late Thursday this week. I need the explosion tonight.
I can't believe the money I am saving in Bog Roll, Avocados and Goats Cheese plus I have managed to keep half a bottle of white wine in the fridge for 4 days !

 

[Westdene Seagull]

plus I have managed to keep half a bottle of white wine in the fridge for 4 days !

Weirdo !

 

[Brian Fantana]

If I've learned anything today it's that throwing stuff in the air will end badly.

Welcome back! That is marvellous