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Report on Fagradalsfjall (Iceland) — 3 August-9 August 2022


Fagradalsfjall

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 3 August-9 August 2022
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2022. Report on Fagradalsfjall (Iceland) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 3 August-9 August 2022. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (3 August-9 August 2022)

Fagradalsfjall

Iceland

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


The fissure eruption of the Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system that began at around 1318 on 3 August continued at least through 9 August. Numerous small lava fountains rose along the fissure, located near the border of the previous flow field N of Fagradalsfjall, and lava flows traveled downslope to the NW. Scientists from the Institute of Earth Sciences stated that the initial flow rate was 5-10 times greater than the flow rate at the start of the 2021 eruption, based on model estimates, field data, and satellite measurements. The flow rate was about 32 cubic meters per second during the initial hours of the eruption, then decreased to an average of 18 cubic meters per second from 1700 on 3 August until 1100 on 4 August, by which time about 1.6 million cubic meters of lava had covered an area of 0.14 square kilometers. The average flow thickness was around 11 m. According to a news article the length of the active fissure had decreased and the middle part of the fissure was the most active. On 5 August Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported that the number of daily earthquakes declined after the eruption began and deformation stabilized. Thousands of people were walking on the trails to view the eruption; authorities warned the public to heed inclement weather warnings, and closed access to the site during 7-9 August due to weather conditions and trail maintenance.

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), Institute of Earth Sciences, Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV), Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV), Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV)