{"id":121693,"date":"2023-12-19T12:39:30","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T12:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogcamlodipine.com\/?p=121693"},"modified":"2023-12-19T12:39:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T12:39:30","slug":"curtain-of-fire-erupting-from-volcano-may-engulf-iceland-for-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogcamlodipine.com\/world-news\/curtain-of-fire-erupting-from-volcano-may-engulf-iceland-for-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Curtain of fire erupting from volcano may engulf Iceland for months"},"content":{"rendered":"

Iceland: Volcano erupts weeks after thousands evacuated<\/h3>\n

Iceland\u2019s volcano is characterised by a \u201cfire curtain\u201d out of which lava is being violently ejected, a volcanologist has said. Meanwhile another has warned there is no way of knowing exactly how long the eruption will continue.<\/p>\n

Last night\u2019s spectacular event is thought to have happened roughly 2.4 miles from the town of Grindavik, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. The town, close to Iceland’s main airport, was evacuated in November after strong seismic activity damaged homes and raised fears of an imminent eruption.<\/p>\n

Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, a scientist who flew over the site on Tuesday morning (December 19) onboard a coast guard research flight, told RUV that he estimates twice as much lava had already spewed than the entire monthlong eruption on the peninsula this summer. Local officials have criticised people for getting too close to the volcano – putting their lives at risk in the process.<\/p>\n

Matthew Watson, Professor of Volcanoes and Climate at the University of Bristol, said: \u201cAs is common with this eruptive style it began with a sustained eruption of ballistics that, over time, has lengthened to form a fire curtain – a long fissure out of which lava is being violently ejected.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was unlikely, but not impossible, that there could be some disruption to air travel, although the volcanic eruption in question generally did not produce much ash, which is what tends to ground plans, Prof Watson explained. He continued: \u201cThe eruption looks to be larger than those recently seen in South West Iceland and the Icelandic Met Office are monitoring the eruption.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Underlining the safety message, he added: \u201cThis style of eruption is amongst the most spectacular ever seen and there will be a strong pull for tourists, even though the Blue Lagoon complex has again shut. Tourists should strictly follow official advice as there are significant hazards, such as new breakouts, which can quickly put people in harm’s way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prof Stephen Sparks, Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, said: \u201cSeveral fissures have developed as lines of dramatic fire fountains of 1200C basalt lava.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe typical progression of such eruptions is that within a day or two the activity focuses in one place with the construction of a cone of ejecta while at the same time lava pours out of the vent. The Icelanders have built barriers around the town and around nearby power facilities to divert the lavas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Sam Mitchell, Research Associate in Volcanology at the University of Bristol, said the eruption followed five weeks of uncertainty.<\/p>\n

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He continued: \u201cThe fissure increased in length dramatically over the first few hours reaching 4km in the early hours of the morning. Earthquake activity began in early November along a 15km stretch of land around the area incredibly many earthquakes in the town of Grindavik itself resulting in a full scale evacuation of the town and all its residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cResidents have still not been allowed permanently back into the town. The thousands of small earthquakes that struck the town in early November caused extensive damage (including fractures and cracks) to building, key access roads and utility networks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though the lava did not erupt into the town of Grindavik or at the nearby power plant and popular tourist destination know as the Blue Lagoon, flows are still only a few miles away, with concern ongoing, Dr Mitchell stressed.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cMost roads around the entire area are closed and limited to only those monitoring the activity and some civil authorities. At this time, 12 hours after the eruption began, a lot of 4km fissure has subsided in lava activity, with the rate of magma output significantly decreased. This can be quite common after an intense start to an eruption.<\/p>\n