Weekly Weather Event -Week of August 1
August 5, 2022This Wednesday, Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall volcano has erupted again since only eight months ago. Before then, the volcano was dormant for more than 6,000 years before 2021. Many tourists were in awe to see the site of the volcano spewing lava. As three onlookers were mildly injured, the Icelandic Meteorological Office urged people to stay away from the area. However, the Icelandic government stated there was low risk to populated areas.
A week prior to the eruption, a series of earthquakes were detected on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The area resides on a “hotspot” or vertical plume of hot molten rock that lies beneath Iceland, and is called the Icelandic plume. Its location between the spreading North American and Eurasian tectonic plates make it an especially significant spot for volcanic activity. Because of the recent earthquakes, officials were already on high alert and suspected a volcano eruption.