Iceland 'on edge' waiting for volcanic eruption as huge cracks open up
A bit big but it provides more detail. Out of the 3-4 km fissure that started, this is what's currently active.
"Bláa Lónið" is the Blue Lagoon and Svartsengi is the geothermal powerplant.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: 229DAK,
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902
January 14, 2024, 08:07 AM
229DAK
It has started again. Their previous estimate was further activity would occur between Hagafell north to Stóra Skógfell. Mother Nature had a different idea and doesn't care where any diversionary walls were built. From the Icelandic Meteorological Office:
Updated 14 January at 8:20
An eruption started at 7:57 UTC
The fissure opening is southeast of Hagafell mountain.
The southern most part of the fissure is about 900 m from the town of Grindavík.
The opening is south of lava flow deflection barriers that are being built north of Grindavík. Lava is now flowing towards the town.
From the Reykjavik Grapevine:
UPDATE: 09:30
The lava flow is reportedly 450 meters away from the northernmost homes in Grindavík.
The lava intrusion is believed to run beneath the town.
According to information gathered by experts who flew over the scene in the coast guard helicopter, the fissure is erupting on both sides of the protective walls recently built to protect Grindavík from potential lava flow. Volcanologist Þorvaldur Þórðarson told the national broadcaster RÚV, “This is perhaps one of the worst places we can have an eruption and puts Grindavík in danger if the eruption continues.”
Þorvaldur observed that this eruption has started smaller than that which began on Dec. 18 at Sundhnúkagígar.
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902
January 14, 2024, 08:38 AM
1s1k
Scientists were talking about drilling bore holes a few days ago the relieve pressure. What could go wrong.
Impressive photos of Mother Nature at work in article.
“An Icelandic volcano has spewed lava within 500m of homes in the town of Grindavik, just weeks after residents were allowed to return to their homes following a major eruption.
Video footage shows an eruption took place at 7.57am local time today, with magma, smoke and ash spurting high into the sky above the town of Grindavik, 25 miles away from Iceland's capital Reykjavik.
The fissure grew many times its initial size within just thirty minutes, meteorologists reported. Geologist Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson told local media that the crack is currently a kilometre (3,280 ft) long, adding that he wasn't certain when it would stop growing.
Pictures show the lava slowly creeping towards the fishing town, with officials saying that the flow is just 500m (1,500 ft) away from hitting the northernmost buildings. Video posted to X shows a second eruption taking place just after midday today. …”
The eruption near Hagafell-Grindavík has maintained the same strength for the past hour or so.
Seismic measurements show that at the beginning of the unrest, the magma initially moved from the SE edge of Stóra-Skógfell and then continued southwest to the southern end of Grindavík.
In the last few hours, seismic activity has reduced compared to that during the initial propagation phase of the dike in the early hours this morning (from 2:30-5am). At 5:30 am seismicity had reached the northern end of Grindavík and deformation measurements indicate the dike has propagated beneath Grindavík town. A new eruptive fissure opened at 12:10 this afternoon, just north of the town. Lava flows extruded from this fissure have now entered the town.
Due to the dike propagation, existing faults and fractures were reactivated and likely new fractures formed within Grindavík.
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902
January 14, 2024, 11:44 AM
229DAK
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902
January 14, 2024, 01:10 PM
229DAK
UPDATE: 15:55 Met office geophysicist Benedikt Ófeigsson reports that land deformations and seismic activity around and inside Grindavík appear to have settled. It remains too early to make predictions about the longevity of the eruption, however.
UPDATE: 15:45 Dozens of sheep and several family pets are believed to be trapped in Grindavík, RÚV reports. The Animal Protection Association of Iceland is calling on search and rescue teams to remove them from the town, if possible. All animals had been evacuated from Grindavík in the days following the Nov. 10, 2023, evacuation of the town, however some residents had decided in recent weeks to bring animals back into town.
UPDATE: 14:50 Those watching the livestream of the eruption just saw a home burst into flame as the lava made contact with it. The newly built single-family home on Efrahóp is the first casualty of the eruption. Several other homes are nearby and in the path of the lava flow.
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902
January 14, 2024, 01:41 PM
nhtagmember
Watching a bunch of livestreams. Holy crap. The eruptions in Borjom is really starting to accelerate.
January 15, 2024, 09:21 AM
229DAK
quote:
Though lava flow from the main fissure that opened just before 8:00 Sunday morning has slowed and flow from the smaller southern fissure appears to have ceased, the Icelandic Meteorological Office maintains that the eruption is not over.
GPS measurements show that land rise continues under Svartsengi, indicating the magma chamber there is filling back up — this is different than the way the land was behaving following the December 18, 2023, eruption at Sundhnúkagígar. Experts are evaluating the data and measurements to determine what that could mean for the immediate future.
The Met Office also says it is clear that the magma tunnel stretches beneath Grindavík.
Three houses were destroyed by encroaching lava that flowed into the town from the southern fissure on Sunday. Lava from the northern fissure also flowed over Grindavíkurvegur and the hot water pipes running from Svartsengi Power Plant into Grindavík. Crews are now working to restore hot water access to the town to avoid further damage to infrastructure.
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902
This message has been edited. Last edited by: 229DAK, 