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Report on Fagradalsfjall (Iceland) — 10 August-16 August 2022


Fagradalsfjall

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 10 August-16 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, 10 August-16 August 2022. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (10 August-16 August 2022)

Fagradalsfjall

Iceland

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


The fissure eruption in the Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system that began on 3 August continued in the Meradalir valley during 10-16 August. Lava erupted mainly from a central cone and flowed ESE. According to the Institute of Earth Sciences the effusion rate had notably decreased, from an average of 11 cubic meters per second during 4-13 August to 3-4 cubic meters per second during 13-15 August. A news article stated that the effusion rate significantly decreased during 0530-0630 on 13 August based on information from IMO staff who were investigating the eruption site for new changes. The Institute of Earth Sciences estimated that 10.6 million cubic meters of lava had covered an area of 1.25 square kilometers by 15 August. Data collected during an overflight on 16 August indicated that the effusion rate had further reduced to 2 cubic meters per second during the previous day, though the uncertainty in that estimate was high. On 16 August residents reported seeing a purple-tinged sulfur dioxide gas cloud over the eruption area slowly drifting SW during sunrise.

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)