Main Facts:
The eruption size in Iceland in the southwest of the country continues to decline, with lava flow currently at about a quarter of what it was on Monday, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, which added that a third of the original fissure of the eruption was active on Tuesday.
The eruption has reached a “steady state,” and the decreased volcanic and seismic activity is not an “indicator” of the duration of the eruption, according to the office.
Mineral engineer Magnús Guðmundsson told Icelandic media RUV that it would be difficult to predict how the eruption will change over time, adding: “It could end in a week, or it could take a little longer” before the eruption is over.
The eruption is unlikely to affect local infrastructure soon, according to Guðmundsson, including the nearby town of Grindavík, which evacuated its approximately 3,600 residents last month.
The Icelandic Tourist Board has advised locals and tourists against visiting the area, according to CNN, noting that the eruption is releasing “large amounts of toxic gases” while rescue workers and scientists are “assessing the situation.”
South Iceland’s police also issued warnings, stating that scientists would need “a few days to assess the situation” as the gas emitted from the eruption can be “dangerous.”
Main Background:
The volcanic eruption north of Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland began on Monday following a series of earthquakes in the area. The country recorded more than 1,000 earthquakes over 24-hour periods several times in the last two months, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. Iceland experiences an increase in the number of earthquakes each year due to its location on a tectonic plate boundary, averaging about 26,000 earthquakes per year. Three volcanic eruptions have occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the past two years, including the most recent eruption on July 10.
The Big Number:
4 kilometers. This is the estimated length of the volcanic fissure, stretching from the northern end near Stóra-Skógafell to the southeastern end of Sandnök, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. The southern end of the fissure is about 3 kilometers away from Grindavík.
Stunning Fact:
The Central Bank of Iceland decided last month not to change interest rates in the country, after officials cited “uncertainty” amid threats of an “imminent” volcanic eruption. Ásgeir Jónsson, the bank’s governor, said there is a “very strong case” for raising interest rates if there is no threat of a volcanic eruption.
Further Reading:
Iceland Volcano Erupts After Weeks Of Earthquakes (Forbes)
Iceland’s Earthquake Swarm: What We Know About The Thousands Of Tectonic Quakes (Forbes)
Iceland Records 1,700 More Earthquakes As Likelihood Of Volcano Eruption Remains High (Forbes)
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