A new eruption began in Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, following an intense series of small earthquakes in the Sundhnúkar Crater Row between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell at 20:48 UTC on August 22, 2024.
Rising seismic activity and land deformation patterns in Iceland’s Svartsengi area resemble those observed before the last eruption in the Sundhnúkur crater row, indicating a potential for a new volcanic eruption in the near-term.
A strong glacial flood began in Mýrdalsjökull, an ice cap atop the Katla volcano in southern Iceland, around 11:00 UTC on July 27, 2024. This event prompted authorities to raise the Aviation Color Code for Katla volcano to Yellow.
The latest eruption in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula has entered its 14th day with one crater active and relatively stable. Land uplift has resumed over the past weekend and considerable pollution is now being measured in many parts of the capital Reykjavik and the western part of South Iceland.
The Icelandic Met Office reported on June 8, 2024, that Grindavíkurvegur road was covered by lava for the third time since the Sundhnúkur eruption began on May 29. The lava, primarily flowing northwest, reached the road after breaching a protective barrier.
A new eruption started near Sundhnúkur north of Grindavík, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland at 12:46 UTC on May 29, 2024. The eruption is in the same area as the previous eruption.
The Icelandic Met Office reports ongoing magma accumulation and land rise in Svartsengi, indicating a heightened risk for intensified volcanic activity or the formation of new fissures in the Reykjanes Peninsula.
The ongoing eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, starting March 16, 2024, continues to pose a threat as lava from the Sundhnúkur crater row thickens near Grindavík. Extrusion rates have remained consistent at 3 – 4 m3/s (106 – 141 ft3/s), with new data anticipated to further assess the situation.
A significant earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 hit the Bárðarbunga caldera in Iceland on April 21, 2024, marking the largest seismic event in the area since the 2015 Holuhraun eruption. This event was followed by a smaller M3.0 aftershock, but no further seismic activity has been reported.
The ongoing volcanic eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, which began at 20:23 UTC on March 16, 2024, continues to impact the area with significant ground uplift and persistent hazards from volcanic gas emissions. The eruption, centered at the Sundhnúkur crater row, shows no signs of abating, with an expanding lava field now covering 6.15 km² (23.5 mi2).
