A volcano in southwestern Iceland exploded with radiating waves of molten lava last Friday, reports the Associated Press. The sight was met with much anticipation and excitement after seismic activity in the area increased within the past few weeks. The Reykjanes peninsula, not far from the country's capital Reykjavik, hasn't witnessed a volcanic eruption in years, reports Alyse Stanley for Gizmodo. The volcano Mount Fagradalsfjall has been dormant for 6, years, AP reports.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office IMO first spotted the eruption through a webcam and later confirmed the eruption using thermal satellite imaging, Gizmodo reports. It doesn't seem like it's going to recover, based on views in Edwards : Theoretically, lava can melt about five to ten times its own volume of ice -- if all the heat from the lava, which could be 1, degrees Celsius [about 2, degrees Fahrenheit], melts the ice.
But nature generally is not that efficient, in part because meltwater can quickly carry heat away from the lava-ice interface. Also, because about 20 percent of the potential heat released by the lava comes from crystals that grow inside the lava, quickly turning it into glass, some of the potential heat is lost.
Edwards : Yes, depending on how badly the ice was damaged and how much snow falls. At Veniaminof Volcano in Alaska, lava flows come out of a cone that sits above a caldera filled with ice. The flows melt into the ice for 30 to 50 meters [98 to feet], but after one or two years are again covered by ice and snow. Q: Is there anywhere else on Earth such glacier-volcanoes exist and have erupted, or might in the near future?
Edwards : Our work shows that at least volcanoes around the globe have glaciers that have been mapped to within 1 kilometer [about two-thirds of a mile] of a known volcanic vent.
More than may be within striking distance: a 5 kilometer [3. If you look carefully, you can just see the end of the lava flow. Beginning in the early hours of January 22nd, a fissure that opened about on the edge of town snaked right through its center, tearing apart roads and consuming hundreds of buildings in the blooming lava. Despite the fact it happened in the middle of the night, in the dead of winter, the island's evacuation was swift and effective. By pumping seawater constantly on the lava flow, they managed to redirect it from many houses.
Today, the town has been rebuilt and is a center for tourists looking to go whale or puffin watching or learn about this fascinating event. As excellent as a prediction of and response to Icelandic volcanic eruptions has become, there are still some dangers associated with eruptions that travelers should be aware of. Should an eruption occur in Iceland during your stay, it is important to be aware of the wind's direction.
It is often recommended that people remain inside with the windows closed on days where the toxicity levels are particularly high. You can see any warnings about eruptions and air quality on the Icelandic weather website.
Though the threat to human life in an Icelandic eruption is very low, their wider impacts can still be enormous. Eruptions in Iceland are major world events that can lead to dramatic consequences, even hundreds of miles away. The elements brought up from the depths of the earth in these eruptions, for example, can poison crops and livestock, thus crippling those who make a living off the land. Holuhraun was blamed for the mass death of thousands of sheep across the country in , which seriously threatened many Icelandic farmers' livelihoods.
This, however, was a relatively minor consequence compared to previous ash clouds. It went right across Europe, causing dense fogs that shut down ports, leading to intense food shortages, and brought such heat that most foods went quickly rancid anyway. The most catastrophic Icelandic eruption in terms of human life was undoubtedly the aforementioned eruption of Laki.
It has an impact on the climate and health of the globe. It almost tore the nation of Iceland apart. Due to the sheer volume of ash, crops across the country were rendered entirely inedible, and the rivers poisoned. Half of all livestock was wiped out, and a third of Icelanders lost their lives to the ensuing famine. A further third left the country, most emigrating to North America in hopes of a prosperous new life far from what appeared to be a dying island.
Though the threat of an eruption and concern for its consequences are constant parts of the Icelandic psyche, without the volcano systems and their geothermal energy, Iceland would not be half the country it is today. Vegetables, fruits, and herbs are grown year-round in greenhouses, allowing fresh world produce even in the dead of winter. However, this does not mean that the potential of Icelandic volcanoes is always used for good; heavy industry, particularly aluminum smelting, is slowly increasing in Iceland as foreign entities see the potential in such a great and free-flowing source of heat.
As it tangled the tongues of newscasters around the world, millions were shown footage of this country at its most raw, dramatic, and beautiful and were inspired to witness it further. Therefore, it is little wonder that much of the tour industry has built up around exploring volcanoes and volcanic regions.
These excursions come in a vast variety of forms; some are guided sightseeing tours, such as this trip around the Reykjanes Peninsula , where you will get to hear local stories about the region, whereas others involve more adventure.
However, the most unique of all volcano tours in Iceland is conducted in no other country; the Into the Volcano tour allows you to descend into the vast, brightly colored magma chamber of a dormant volcano using a lift. It should be noted, however, that the vast majority of tours in Iceland will include, in one way or another, volcanoes. The country has so many of them that they are inescapable. As has been noted, Iceland has over known volcanoes.
However, many of these require a closer analysis due to their active nature, unique beauty, dark history, or tour opportunities. Below, therefore, we have compiled a list of nine volcanoes that all visitors to Iceland are recommended to see.
A rather small but long eruption took place between , and there were also eruptions in and the year , but not much is known about these. So far, this has not been the case, although as many sources will inform you, Katla is well overdue for a mighty eruption.
During the early days of the eruption, thousands of people made their way to Iceland to marvel over it, with many hopping on planes and helicopters for the optimal view. Dormant for about years, there is no risk of an eruption here, making tours as safe as they are mesmerizing. It is entered by boarding a small mining lift at the entrance, which will lower you down meters to the enormous cavern base.
The bottom covers roughly the same amount of area as a football field, giving you plenty of space to explore. Besides its scale, the most impressive thing about this magma chamber is its vivid coloration. The lava within the chamber held many elements brought up from the earth's mantle, and the vibrant shades of these are on full display; the walls are dyed red, green, and yellow by iron, copper, and sulfur, respectively.
Photo by Jackmac However, when an eruption occurs, the resulting ash clouds are some of the greatest and most deadly. The aforementioned Laki volcano, which caused worldwide havoc in , is part of this volcanic system. Photo by Saira. Hekla volcano is one of the most famous and active volcanoes in Iceland. More about Iceland Volcano Scientists air travel.
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