2023-11-14 05:00:04
Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula is currently under high surveillance due to increased seismic activity, signaling an imminent volcanic eruption near the town of Grindavík. This region, known for its intense geothermal activity and its lunar landscapes, is now the scene of a worrying underground activity.
Illustration showing the possible eruption near the small town of Grindavík
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) recently translated a statement announcing that an eruption might occur in the coming days. Grindavík, a small fishing town with around 2,800 inhabitants, is just 5 kilometers from the famous geothermal spa of the Blue Lagoon, a popular destination for nearly 700,000 annual visitors.
Thorvaldur Thordarson, professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland (Island, literally “land of… ), revealed that a land subsidence of approximately one meter deep had formed at Grindavík, indicating that the magma has come dangerously close to the surface (A surface generally designates the superficial layer of an object. The term a…). A risk of eruption within the city itself cannot be excluded . It is difficult to estimate the exact depth of the magma, but it might be only a few tens of meters from the surface. In the event of an eruption, the lava (Lava is molten rock, more or less fluid, emitted by a volcano during a…) would probably head towards the west, towards the sea.
Seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula began to intensify on October 25, with more than 1,000 earthquakes in a few hours (Time is a unit of measurement:) to the north (North is a cardinal point , opposite the south.) of Grindavík. Two significant earthquakes, of magnitudes 3.9 and 4.5, were recorded at a depth of approximately 5 kilometers. This activity continued for two weeks, with hundreds of earthquakes and signs of ground heaving, reflecting the accumulation of magma beneath the surface.
Map showing the magma tunnel passing near the town of Grindavík.
Image credit: IMO
On November 10, intense seismic activity was recorded, leading authorities to begin the evacuation of Grindavík. The IMO indicated that the amount of magma moving would be greater than that observed during the larger magma intrusions associated with the Fagradalsfjall eruptions.
According to IMO data from November 11, a “magma tunnel” extends 15 kilometers from the north towards Grindavík and the sea. This magma was at a minimum depth of 800 meters below the surface, although these data is subject to rapid change. Increasing seismicity likely released tensions in the region, facilitating the rise of magma.
Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland, mentioned that although seismic activity has decreased, this does not predict future developments. The highest probability remains an eruption near Grindavík. Authorities are now awaiting updated data to establish the exact depth of the magma and will communicate new information as soon as it becomes available.
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