Iceland is preparing for a volcanic eruption in the coming days, becoming one of the most followed topics on social networks worldwide. Given the shocking images, the big question is what is happening in that country and what could be the consequences of a phenomenon of these characteristics.
What is happening in Iceland?
Since late October, the region surrounding the Icelandic capital Reykjavik in the southwest has seen increased seismic activity. This is due to an underground river of magma, a hot liquid or semi-liquid rock, approximately 15 kilometers long, moving upward beneath the Earth’s surface.
All of this is happening under Iceland and part of the Atlantic Ocean, and the impact of an eruption on the country, and beyond in terms of aviation, will depend on where exactly the magma breaks the surface. One city, Grindavik, which lies directly above the magma, has already been evacuated due to the risk of ‘fire sources’ and harmful gases.
If there is an eruption in Iceland, the damage will be very significant to the local infrastructure and there could be a release of toxic fumes. However, at least in recent hours, initial concerns about a much broader disruption are now subsiding. According to experts, Grindavik is very close to the position of the new fracture and his survival is at absolute risk. It all depends on where the magma eventually reaches the surface, but the situation doesn’t seem good for the city’s residents.
Iceland: What happens when a volcano erupts on an island?
If a volcano erupts into the sea or erupts on land and then flows out to sea, there is a risk of an explosive ash cloud when extremely hot rock comes into contact with water. In April 2010, the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano caused the largest closure of European airspace since the Second World War, as a result of an extensive ash cloud, with estimated losses between 1.5 billion and 2.5 billion euros. The circumstances of this volcanic activity are very different, so such an extensive impact is not expected.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office estimates that the magma is currently 800 meters from the surface. As a result, the probability of an eruption is “high” and could occur in the coming days. Last night, the earthquakes were weaker, but ground deformation continued, with cracks and fissures up to a meter deep reported on roads, suggesting magma could be even closer to the surface, indicating things could be reaching a critical point.
Iceland and its history with volcanoes
Iceland is very accustomed to volcanic activity, having successfully built a tourism industry around it, as it is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Earth’s crust is fractured into different plates, and on the crest, the Eurasian and North American plates are moving apart by a few centimeters a year. This allows magma to rise to the surface, which then erupts as lava or ash.
The nature of volcanic eruptions varies depending on the type of rock and how the plates move. This magma is believed to have originated within the Reykjanes-Svartsengi volcanic system. One of the most extensive eruptions in Iceland was in 1783 when there was a lava flood that lasted eight months and produced extensive sulfur clouds that remained over northern Europe for more than five months, estimated to have caused a cooling of around 1.3 degrees Celsius in the next two years.
This story was written in Spanish by Miguel Fernandez in Cultura Colectiva News