Logo link to homepage

Report on Fagradalsfjall (Iceland) — 2 August-8 August 2023


Fagradalsfjall

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 2 August-8 August 2023
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2023. Report on Fagradalsfjall (Iceland) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 2 August-8 August 2023. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (2 August-8 August 2023)

Fagradalsfjall

Iceland

63.895°N, 22.258°W; summit elev. 250 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


At 1706 on 5 August IMO lowered the Aviation Color Code for Fagradalsfjall to Yellow (the second level on a four-color scale), noting that the eruption had declined during the previous few days and very minor activity at the crater was visible in webcam images. Tremor had decreased during the previous 36 hours and reached background levels by 1500 on 5 August. Gas plumes had typically risen 1-2 km above the vent, though on 1 August plumes rose more than 2.5 km, and according to news articles, a notable amount of fume rose from the vent on 4 August. The crater had become deeper and smaller by 4 August. Activity was last seen on 5 August and a thermal anomaly in the crater was last identified in satellite images on 6 August.

Geological Summary. Although the Fagradalsfjall fissure swarm has previously been considered a split or secondary swarm of the Krýsuvík–Trölladyngja volcanic system, as of September 2022 Icelandic volcanologists managing the Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes made the decision to identify it as a distinct separate system. The recent eruptions and related reports have been reassigned here, and other content will be prepared and adjusted as appropriate.

Sources: Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV), Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV)