Live from Iceland

Mineral Matters #432

Volcanic activity in Iceland - live!

I wasn’t aware of all of the Icelandic live webcams on the Live from Iceland website (thanks to Richard Bell for the link).

It is fascinating to watch the inside of the Earth popping out for a visit. A number of different webcams show the current eruptions from different vantage points.

Iceland is a volcanic hotspot, sitting atop both the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and a volcanic hotspot. This unique location has shaped its dramatic landscapes and constant volcanic activity.

It is home to over 100 volcanoes, many of which are active. This constant volcanic activity has created a diverse range of landforms, including lava fields, craters, and geothermal features.

The island sits on the divergent boundary between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. As these plates move apart, magma rises to the surface, creating new land. Iceland is also renowned for its hot springs, geysers, and other geothermal phenomena.

A new fissure eruption started on the Reykjanes Peninsula (Reykjanesskagi) on August 22nd at 9:26PM, making it the sixth eruption in the area since December, 2023. Road closures are restricted to around the eruption site and it does not threaten people.

Dr. Matthew Roberts from the Icelandic Meteorological Office explains the nature of the eruptions on YouTube.

Below: Screen grab of one of the webcams.