Contents

• Overview of Volcanic Eruptions
• Fagradalsfjall Volcano in Iceland
• Historical Eruptions and Activity
• Impact and Precautions

Overview

Volcanic eruptions occur when magma, which is lighter than the solid rock around it, rises from great depths to the earth's surface.

Iceland is one of the most geologically active regions of the world, with about 30 active volcanic areas.

The eruption of the Fagradalsfjall ("fu-gra-dalls-fy-utl") volcano in Iceland has been expected since October.

More than 20,000 tremors have been recorded since the end of October in the area of the erupting Fagradalsfjall volcano.

The Reykjanes Peninsula was dormant for eight centuries until the eruptions in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Fagradalsfjall Volcano in Iceland

In a statement on the eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano, the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) officially announced a volcanic eruption at the Fagradalsfjall volcano near Grindavik.

The eruption, which took place at around 21.17 pm on December 18, had been expected for some time. Precautions for the eruption were taken in advance, and people living in the area were evacuated.

The eruption produced lava fountains up to 330 ft (100 m) high. The source of the eruption was located about 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Grindavik.

The town of Grindavik, where the eruption occurred, is located just 42 kilometers from Iceland's capital Reykjavik.

There are no major population centers near the Fagradalsfjall volcano. All roads leading to the town of about 4,000 people have been closed except in emergencies to allow traffic in and out.

Scientists said there is a 15 km (nine-mile) long magma river under the Reykjanes peninsula where the volcano is located.

Fagradalsfjall volcano is known as a shield volcano. This means that the slopes are relatively low and spread out.

As a result, the lava that flows out during an eruption usually flows at a relatively slow speed, allowing authorities enough time to get people out of the lava's path.

The Fagradalsfjall volcano eruption has so far also been characterized by slow-moving basaltic lava flows.

Historical Eruptions and Activity

A recent history of the Fagradalsfjall volcano shows that the volcano had been quiet for over six thousand years until the eruption in 2021.

The eruption in 2021 has been described by experts as a "tourist eruption". This is a commonly used term for "small eruptions that are easily accessible".

When a volcano erupts, the first thing to do is probably to get as far away as possible. In Iceland, however, the opposite is true. In 2021, Icelanders began flocking to the site of the eruption to see this spectacular natural phenomenon.

This eruption did not produce ash plumes that caused the closure of air traffic over Europe, as was the case with the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull.

Then, on August 3, 2022, there was a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula. In the month preceding this eruption, more than 10,000 earthquakes and two earthquakes exceeding 5.0 on the Richter scale were recorded in the region.

Finally, on August 3, 2021, there was an eruption. This eruption did not cause any major danger. The Icelandic Meteorological Office initially advised people not to go near Fagradalsfjall because of the new eruption.

Nevertheless, Icelanders flocked to the area to watch this eruption as well. More than 1,800 people visited the volcano on the first day.

The lava flow from this eruption stopped on August 21, 2022.

It is only 20 km (12 miles) from Keflavik International Airport, Iceland's main international airport.

Impact and Precautions

Due to the low nature of the eruption and little or no ash production, it is not considered a risk to air traffic.

There have been no serious casualties so far from the eruption on December 18, 2023. Since it was an expected explosion, necessary measures were taken by the Icelandic state.

Due to the type of this eruption, flights on the European continent were seriously and for a long time disrupted due to the ash erupted after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010. However, there has been no such situation in this eruption so far. It is expected that the eruption will not cause serious consequences.