LONDON (AP) — Scientists had been waiting for weeks for a volcano in southwestern Iceland to erupt, so it was no surprise when it happened Monday night. The area has been active for more than two years, and thousands of small earthquakes have shaken the area in recent weeks.
Here’s a look at what’s happening and what could happen in the future:
HOW DID THE SPRAY OCCUR?
The incident began around 22:20 local time on Monday, north of Grindavik, a fishing town of 3,400 on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The town is located about 50 kilometers (31 mi) southwest of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, in an area commonly known as the Fagradalsfjall volcano.
First there was a series of small earthquakes. Then lava at about 1,200 degrees Celsius (2,192 degrees Fahrenheit) began pouring from a crack about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long. The Icelandic Meteorological Office estimated hundreds of cubic meters of lava flowed per second during the first two hours of the eruption, but activity decreased significantly by Tuesday afternoon.
WAS IT UNEXPECTED?
In short, no; Scientists had been expecting the eruption for several weeks, and in November authorities evacuated Grindavik after thousands of small earthquakes shook the area for more than two weeks. Scientists said their monitors showed that a corridor of magma, or semi-molten rock, was spreading towards the city and could reach the surface very soon.
The nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal resort, one of Iceland’s best-known tourist attractions, was forced to temporarily close as a precaution following a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in the area last month.
Fagradalsfjall has been dormant for nearly 6,000 years but was revived in March 2021 as hundreds of people flocked to the Reykjanes Peninsula to see spectacular months-long lava flows. The red glow of the lava could be seen from the outskirts of the capital.
WILL THIS EXPLOSION AFFECT FLIGHTS?
None of the recent eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula have caused damage or disruption to flights, despite the area’s proximity to the country’s main Keflavik Airport. Although Monday’s eruption appears larger and more powerful than eruptions in recent years, forecasters and scientists say it is unlikely to affect air travel.
Many people still remember the massive disruptions to international aviation in 2010 when a different volcano in Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull, spewed huge clouds of ash into Europe’s atmosphere. Nearly 100,000 flights were canceled, millions of international passengers were stranded and air travel was halted for days over concerns that fine ash could damage jet engines.
Experts say the location and characteristics of this eruption mean it is not expected to produce much ash or cause disruption on a similar scale. US-based weather forecasting firm AccuWeather said on Tuesday that initial information showed that no ash cloud had been observed yet.
Volcanologist Sam Mitchell of the University of Bristol says Monday’s eruption is very different from Eyjafjallajokull’s 2010 eruption; “A large explosive explosion under a glacier created a very large cloud and very fine ash in the atmosphere when the wind direction was in the direction of mainland Europe.”
WHAT OTHER EFFECTS COULD THIS EXPLOSION HAVE?
Scientists say there is no threat of lava reaching the town of Grindavik or important structures such as nearby power plants. Residents in the area were evacuated and most surrounding roads remained closed.
But scientists warn that the situation could change and that it is too early to tell how long the eruption will last or when residents will be able to return to their homes.
“Although the lava did not erupt into the town of Grindavik or the Blue Lagoon, the nearby power plant and popular tourist destination, the lava flows are still only a few kilometers away and there are still concerns about lava reaching these important locations,” Mitchell said.
Molten lava flowing above ground can also increase the risk of poor air quality in the region due to increased sulfur dioxide content in the air, AccuWeather said. The Icelandic Met Office estimates that gas pollution could be detected in the Reykjavik area later on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Volcanologist Ármann Höskuldsson told Iceland’s public broadcaster RUV that he expected the eruption could last from a week to 10 days. “If everything is normal, this situation will decrease tomorrow afternoon,” he said.
HOW COMMON ARE VOLCANO Eruptions in ICELAND?
Iceland is one of the most volcanically active regions in the world, with 32 active volcanic areas. On average, an eruption occurs every four to five years, but its frequency has increased to close to once every 12 months since 2021.
The country sits atop a volcanic hotspot and a large crack in the ocean floor called the mid-Atlantic ridge, caused by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. As the plates move apart, new magma rises and fills the gaps, triggering earthquakes and volcanic activity.
One of the country’s largest active volcanoes is Katla, which is closely monitored because it lies beneath thick glacial ice; This means any eruption could melt the ice and cause widespread flooding. Katla last erupted in 1918, which lasted almost a month, depriving crops of sunlight and killing some livestock.