Global Volcanism Program

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports for Reykjanes.

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The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Reykjanes.

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

371020

1926 CE

140 m / 459 ft

63.85°N
22.566°W

Volcano Types

Crater rows
Shield(s)

Rock Types

Major
Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
Oceanic crust (< 15 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

13,995
13,995
15,542
192,922

Geological Summary

The Reykjanes volcanic system at the SW tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level, comprises a broad area of postglacial basaltic crater rows and small shield volcanoes. The submarine Reykjaneshryggur volcanic system is contiguous with and is considered part of the Reykjanes volcanic system, which is the westernmost of a series of four closely-spaced en-echelon fissure systems that extend diagonally across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Most of the subaerial part of the volcanic system (also known as the Reykjanes/Svartsengi volcanic system) is covered by Holocene lavas. Subaerial eruptions have occurred in historical time during the 13th century at several locations on the NE-SW-trending fissure system, and numerous submarine eruptions at Reykjaneshryggur dating back to the 12th century have been observed during historical time, some of which have formed ephemeral islands. Basaltic rocks of probable Holocene age have been recovered during dredging operations, and tephra deposits from earlier Holocene eruptions are preserved on the nearby Reykjanes Peninsula.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Andrew R E B, Gudmundsson A, 2007. Distribution, structure, and formation of Holocene lava shields in Iceland. J Volc Geotherm Res, 168: 137-154.

Gudmundsson A T, 1986. Iceland-Fires. Reykjavik: Vaka-Helgafell, 168 p.

IAVCEI, 1973-80. Post-Miocene Volcanoes of the World. IAVCEI Data Sheets, Rome: Internatl Assoc Volc Chemistry Earth's Interior..

Jakobsson S P, Jonasson K, Sigurdsson I A, 2008. The three igneous rock series of Iceland. Jokull, 58: 117-138.

Jakobsson S P, Jonsson J, Shido F, 1978. Petrology of the western Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland. J Petr, 19: 669-705.

Jenness M H, Clifton A E, 2009. Controls on the geometry of a Holocene crater row: a field study from southwest Iceland. Bull Volc, 71: 715-528.

Johannesson H, Einarsson S, 1988. The age of Illahraun at Svartsengi. Fjolrit Natturufraedistofnunar, 7: 1-11 (in Icelandic with English summary).

Johannesson H, Saemundsson K, 1998. Geological map of Iceland, 1:500,000. Tectonics. Icelandic Inst Nat Hist, Reykjavik.

Jonsson J, 1978. Geology of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Orkustofnun Jardhitadeild, OS-JHD-7831, Geol maps and 303 p text (in Icelandic).

Saemundsson K, Einarsson S, 1980. Geological map of Iceland, sheet 3, south-west Iceland. Icelandic Museum Nat Hist & Iceland Geodetic Surv, 1:250,000 geol map.

Sigurgeirsson M A, 1992. Tephra fall formations on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Unpublished MSci thesis, Univ Iceland, 114 p.

Steinthorsson S, et al., 2002. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World - Iceland. Unpublished manuscript.

Thordarson T, Hoskuldsson A, 2008. Postglacial eruptions in Iceland. Jokull, 58: 197-228.

Eruptive History

Summary of Holocene eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

Start Date	Stop Date	Eruption Certainty	VEI	Evidence	Activity Area or Unit
[ 1970 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days ]	[ Unknown ]	Uncertain	0		Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)
[ 1966 Jul 2 ± 182 days ]	[ Unknown ]	Uncertain	0		Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)
1926 Jun 5 ± 4 days	Unknown	Confirmed	0	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur (NE of Eldey)
[ 1884 Jul 26 ]	[ Unknown ]	Uncertain	2		Reykjaneshryggur (NW of Eldey)
1879 May 30 (?)	1879 Jun 15 ± 5 days	Confirmed	1	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur (Geirfugladrangur)
1830 Mar 13 (?)	1831 Mar (?)	Confirmed	3	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)
1783 May 1 (in or before)	1783 Aug 15 ± 60 days	Confirmed	3	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur (Nyey)
[ 1661 Dec ]	[ Unknown ]	Discredited
1583 Jul 15 ± 45 days	Unknown	Confirmed	2	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur (near Eldeyjar Islands)
1422	Unknown	Confirmed	2	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur (Geirfuglasker-Eldey area)
1340 (?)	Unknown	Confirmed	3	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur
1240	Unknown	Confirmed	1	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur, Arnarsetur, Illahraun
1238	Unknown	Confirmed	0	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur
1231	Unknown	Confirmed	3	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur, R-10 tephra
1226 Jul 15 ± 45 days	1227 (?)	Confirmed	4	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur, R-9 tephra
1223	Unknown	Confirmed	3	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur, R-8 tephra
1211 Aug 31 ± 30 days	Unknown	Confirmed	4	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur, Karlsgigur; R-7 tephra
1211	Unknown	Confirmed		Historical Observations	Stampar, Karlsgigur
1210	Unknown	Confirmed	3	Historical Observations	Vatnsfellsgigur
1179 (in or before)	Unknown	Confirmed	2	Historical Observations	Reykjaneshryggur, R-5 and R-6 tephras
0920 (?)	Unknown	Confirmed		Tephrochronology	Reykjaneshryggur (near Eldey), R-4 tephra
0200 BCE (?)	Unknown	Confirmed	0	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)	Lambagjá
0400 BCE ± 100 years	Unknown	Confirmed	2	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)	Sundhnukar
1800 BCE ± 300 years	Unknown	Confirmed	2	Tephrochronology	Reykjaneshryggur, Stampar, R-2, R-3 tephras
3800 BCE ± 300 years	Unknown	Confirmed		Tephrochronology	Reykjaneshryggur, R-1 tephra
4000 BCE (?)	Unknown	Confirmed	0	Tephrochronology	Sandfellshaed
5040 BCE ± 100 years	Unknown	Confirmed	0	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)	Hopsnes
8000 BCE (?)	Unknown	Confirmed	0	Tephrochronology	Thrainskjöldur

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Bergholl

Shield volcano

37 m

63° 53' 0" N

22° 44' 0" W

Haleyjabunga

Shield volcano

30 m

63° 49' 0" N

22° 39' 0" W

Hrolfsvikurhraun

Shield volcano

63° 50' 0" N

22° 20' 0" W

Lagafell

Shield volcano

91 m

63° 53' 0" N

22° 33' 0" W

Langholl

Shield volcano

73 m

63° 53' 0" N

22° 40' 0" W

Sandfellshaed

Shield volcano

74 m

63° 52' 0" N

22° 35' 0" W

Skalafell

Shield volcano

76 m

63° 49' 0" N

22° 42' 0" W

Thrainsskjöldur

Shield volcano

63° 53' 0" N

22° 12' 0" W

Vatnsheidi

Shield volcano

140 m

63° 51' 0" N

22° 23' 0" W

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Arnarsetur

Crater Row

80 m

63° 53' 0" N

22° 25' 0" W

Badsvallagigir

Crater Row

63° 53' 0" N

22° 25' 0" W

Borgarhraun

Crater Row

121 m

63° 50' 0" N

22° 19' 0" W

Dalahraun

Crater Row

63° 52' 0" N

22° 20' 0" W

Eldey

Submarine crater

80 m

Eldeyjar
Eldoerne

Submarine crater

63° 49' 0" N

22° 45' 0" W

Eldeyjarbodi

Submarine crater

63° 26' 0" N

23° 50' 0" W

Eldvorp

Crater Row

60 m

63° 51' 0" N

22° 35' 0" W

Fellshraun

Crater Row

63° 53' 0" N

22° 25' 0" W

Geirfugladrangur

Submarine crater

63° 26' 0" N

23° 17' 0" W

Grjothryggur

Submarine crater

Gullholl

Submarine crater

Haugur

Crater Row

63° 52' 0" N

22° 37' 0" W

Hreidhur

Crater Row

63° 50' 0" N

22° 40' 0" W

Illahraun

Crater Row

40 m

63° 52' 0" N

22° 28' 0" W

Kalfellshraun

Crater Row

63° 56' 0" N

22° 19' 0" W

Klofningahraun

Crater Row

63° 50' 0" N

22° 33' 0" W

Langagrunn

Submarine crater

Melholl

Crater Row

140 m

63° 50' 0" N

22° 25' 0" W

Nyey
Myoe

Submarine crater

63° 10' 0" N

24° 10' 0" W

Raudholar

Crater Row

40 m

63° 50' 0" N

22° 40' 0" W

Reykjaneshyggur

Fissure vent

80 m

63° 40' 0" N

22° 20' 0" W

Stampar

Crater Row

30 m

63° 50' 0" N

22° 42' 0" W

Steinaholl

Submarine crater

Stori-Brandur

Submarine crater

Sundhnukar

Crater Row

100 m

63° 53' 0" N

22° 23' 0" W

Svartsengi

Fissure vent

Syrfellshraun

Crater Row

63° 49' 0" N

22° 40' 0" W

Tjaldstadagja

Crater Row

30 m

63° 51' 0" N

22° 39' 0" W

Photo Gallery

The Reykjanes volcanic system at the SW tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level, comprises a broad area of postglacial crater rows and small shield volcanoes. Snow-covered Sandfellshæd shield volcano (lower center), capped by a small crater, rises only 74 m above the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Most of the volcanic system is covered by Holocene lava flows. Eruptions have occurred in historical time during the 13th century at several locations on the NE-SW-trending fissure system.

Photo by Helgi Torfason (courtesy of Richie Williams, U S Geological Survey, published in Gudmundsson, 1986).

The two westernmost of five NE-SW-trending volcanic systems on the Reykjanes Peninsula cut diagonally across this aerial photo. The Reykjanes volcanic system, which lies near the SW tip of the peninsula, where the Mid Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level, has produced Holocene lava fields that extend to the western and southern coasts. The Krísuvík volcanic system, on the right side of the photo, has produced several eruptions since the settlement of Iceland. The latest of these took place during the 14th century.

Photo courtesy of Richie Williams (U.S. Geological Survey).

The snow-mantled Reykjanes volcanic system forms the SW tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level. The Reykjanes volcanic system is the westernmost of a series of four closely spaced, NE-SW-trending en echelon fissure systems that extend diagonally across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Most of the Reykjanes volcanic system is covered by Holocene lavas, and eruptions have occurred in historical time during the 13th century at several locations.

Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1998 (Icelandic National Energy Authority).

The submarine Reykjaneshryggur volcanic system, lying off the SW tip of Iceland at the top of the photo, is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which extends onto the Reykjanes Peninsula in the foreground. Numerous submarine eruptions at Reykjaneshryggur dating back to the 12th century have been observed during historical time, some of which have formed ephemeral islands. Tephra deposits from earlier Holocene eruptions are preserved on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the foreground.

Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1998 (Icelandic National Energy Authority).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 7 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections. Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number	Sample Description
NMNH 115614	Tholeiite
NMNH 115616	Tholeiite
NMNH 115619	Tholeiite
NMNH 115626	Oceanite
NMNH 115627	Olivine tholeiite
NMNH 115630	Olivine tholeiite
NMNH 115631	Olivine tholeiite

Affiliated Sites

Large Eruptions of Reykjanes

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

WOVOdat

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).

MODVOLC - HIGP MODIS Thermal Alert System

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.