Iceland Volcanic Eruption: NASA Images Reveal Extent of Streaming Lava Flows, Charred Land

NASA images show the growing extent of charred and blackened land due to the volcanic eruptions over the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland.

NASA Images Reveal Extent of Charred Land, Lava Flows

NASA's Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 was able to snap an image on March 30 that reveals streaming lava from the two craters that are active. This was alongside a huge portion of blackened land that has been charred and covered in cooled lava due to the successive eruptions in the past months.

Images from February 10 and September 20 also show that the blackened land has expanded throughout the eruptions.

Iceland Volcanic Eruption

On March 16, the volcano in Iceland saw its fourth eruption. It previously erupted on December 18 last year, on January 14, and on February 8.

The most recent volcanic eruption still continues, lashing out lava from a fissure that stretches for two miles. It also scorches huge areas of the nearby region near Grindavik's boundaries.

According to a statement from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, specialists from the National Land Survey of Iceland have processed data from satellites from March 27, revealing that the lava field spanned 5.99 square kilometers. Lava volume since the start of the eruption was also found to be 25.7 square meters +/- 1.9 million square meters. It was also estimated that the average extrusive rate of lavas from the caters was at 7.8 +/- 0.7 cubic meters. This can be compared to the extrusion rate during the 2021 Geldingadalir eruption's first phase.

Currently, the eruption is stable, though it is expected to wane soon. According to the IMO, the eruption within the Sundhnukur crater row goes on and there are now two active craters. The third one, which is notably smaller compared to the other two, got extinguished during Easter. Tremor at the volcano also remains stable.

In recent days, inflation within Savrtsengi has not been picked up. This shows that less magma builds up within the magma reservoir under Savrtsengi. Rather, they flow toward the craters of eruption.

When the volcanic eruption started on March 16, the Blue Lagoon nearby was evacuated. This was also the case for the nearby town of Grindavik, which some of the previous eruptions had damaged through lava flows. Barriers build near the town were able to successfully divert a significant portion of the new lava away, though there is one road that got covered by the fiery streams.

These volcanic eruptions did not produce a huge ash cloud. Rather, they released gas plumes, such as that of sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. The most recent volcanic eruption released a plume of sulfur dioxide that reached the UK and Ireland.

Unlike the Eyjafjallajokull eruption in 2010, the Grindavik eruption is far from glaciers. This means that the eruption mainly involves lava flows.

The toxic gas is also reportedly being blown across the country. Over the weekend, high levels have been detected in Grindavik and Hofn. They are also forecasted to be blown towards the Reykjanes area in the coming days.

The IMO notes that the concentration is extremely unhealthy and could lead to respiratory symptoms among people who are exposed to it. It is crucial to close windows, remain indoors, and turn air conditioning off.

Numerous fires have also started throughout the peninsula due to the lava flows. The IMO notes that this is a persisting risk that comes along with dry weather.

Unlike the previous three eruptions that only lasted for a few days, this one has gone for several weeks. This could mean that the magma has a faster and shorter route towards the surface. It may also imply that the magma chamber is not building up magma beneath the ground, which could make this volcanic eruption persist for quite a while.

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