Yet another volcanic eruption has rocked Icelandâs southern peninsula. On August 22, fissures opened up, spilling lava and spewing plumes of gas over half a mile (1 kilometer) into the air.
The eruption occurred in the SundhnĂșkur area, known for volcanic craters whose 2,500-year dormancy came to an end last year. In November, residents of the nearby town of Grindavik were forced to evacuate as a series of earthquakes and fissures shook the region as part of the leadup to a series of eruptions. The most recent, and largest to date, began in late May and continued for weeks.
On August 23, the Iceland Meteorological Office said the intensity of the eruption had decreased âsomewhatâ since the previous day and was now confined to two fissures. While seismic activity had also decreased, the IMO said deformation of the ground north of StĂłra-SkĂłgfell indicated the eruption âhas not reached equilibrium.â
So far, no lava has been spotted headed toward Grindavik, and no deaths or injuries have been reported by authorities. In a statement on its website, officials at Icelandâs largest airport, Keflavik Airport, said the volcanic activity is not affecting air travel. (In 2010, an eruption in Iceland produced a massive plume of ash that shut down air travel across much of Europe for seven days, affecting millions of people and leading to major economic losses.)
Back in February, fresh lava poured onto white snow, producing dramatic contrasts captured in aerial views.
