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Report on Fagradalsfjall (Iceland) — 21 July-27 July 2021


Fagradalsfjall

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 21 July-27 July 2021
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2021. Report on Fagradalsfjall (Iceland) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 21 July-27 July 2021. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (21 July-27 July 2021)

Fagradalsfjall

Iceland

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


The fissure eruption in the W part of the Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system, close to Fagradalsfjall on the Reykjanes Peninsula, continued during 21-27 July. Lava fountaining and overflows from the fifth vent were periodically visible, in between long pauses in the eruption, and lava from the crater flowed in tubes as well as on the surface.

The Institute of Earth Sciences noted that during 2-19 July the lava effusion rate averaged 7.5 cubic meters per second, which was notably lower than averages in May and June. The area of the flow field had grown to almost 4 square kilometers, and the total volume erupted was 96 million cubic meters. Lava flowed into the Meradalir Valley and areas to the W, but did not advance in the Geldingadalur, Nátthaga, and Sydri Meradalir (SE of the fifth vent) valleys. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange due to the lack of ash and tephra emissions, though IMO warned of the potential for lapilli and scoria fallout within a 650 m radius of the active vent. Authorities warned of increased gas emissions hazards.

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