Although the intense earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes Ridge is calming down scientists in Iceland are staying very alert.
“Seismic activity in one area can be a hint of an impending unrest in other areas,” said Þorvaldur Þórðarson, professor in petrology and volcanology at the Univeristy of Iceland, in a radio interview at the National Broadcasting Service, RÚV this morning.
Þorvaldur, also the head of faculty at the Institute of Earth Sciences, sites the resemblance to the notorious 18th century Laki eruption.
“Then it all began with unrest and an eruption on the Reykjanes Ridge and a few weeks later the Laki eruption started.”
The eruption in the Laki craters, South Iceland, is something that Icelanders will never forget even though it took place over 231 years ago (1783-84).
The infamous eruption lasted eight months and produced over 15 cubic kilometers of lava and around 120 million tons of sulfur dioxide. The eruption brought widespread misery around the northern hemisphere. The mass destruction and geological effects are still felt today.
Read more: Harmful gases emitted at Holuhraun lava field stirs up memories of 18th century Laki eruption
According to Þorvaldur there is not a direct connection between the areas but history has taught us that activity in one area can precede bigger events in another.
Also raising concern is that if an eruption will occur in the underwater Eldey volcano it can become explosive, creating large amounts of airborne ash and plume according to Þorvaldur.
The volcano is little more than 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Keflavík International Airport on the Reykjanes peninsula, so an eruption there could have some effect on air traffic, at least to and from Iceland and even further than that.
Although the intense earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes Ridge is calming down scientists in Iceland are staying very alert.
“Seismic activity in one area can be a hint of an impending unrest in other areas,” said Þorvaldur Þórðarson, professor in petrology and volcanology at the Univeristy of Iceland, in a radio interview at the National Broadcasting Service, RÚV this morning.
Þorvaldur, also the head of faculty at the Institute of Earth Sciences, sites the resemblance to the notorious 18th century Laki eruption.
“Then it all began with unrest and an eruption on the Reykjanes Ridge and a few weeks later the Laki eruption started.”
The eruption in the Laki craters, South Iceland, is something that Icelanders will never forget even though it took place over 231 years ago (1783-84).
The infamous eruption lasted eight months and produced over 15 cubic kilometers of lava and around 120 million tons of sulfur dioxide. The eruption brought widespread misery around the northern hemisphere. The mass destruction and geological effects are still felt today.
Read more: Harmful gases emitted at Holuhraun lava field stirs up memories of 18th century Laki eruption
According to Þorvaldur there is not a direct connection between the areas but history has taught us that activity in one area can precede bigger events in another.
Also raising concern is that if an eruption will occur in the underwater Eldey volcano it can become explosive, creating large amounts of airborne ash and plume according to Þorvaldur.
The volcano is little more than 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Keflavík International Airport on the Reykjanes peninsula, so an eruption there could have some effect on air traffic, at least to and from Iceland and even further than that.
