Unprecedented Lava Flow from Iceland's Ongoing Eruption Reaches Blue Lagoon Parking Lot
ICARO Media Group
**Lava from Iceland Eruption Reaches Blue Lagoon Parking Lot**
The ongoing volcanic eruption in Iceland, which started between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell on the night of November 20, has shown remarkable activity, with lava reaching unprecedented distances. As of the latest updates, lava has flowed into the Blue Lagoon's parking lot, advancing at an impressive rate of over 100 meters per hour. This marks the first instance of lava traveling this far west in the region.
Seismic activity and ground deformation have been notably minimal since the eruption began, with only a few minor earthquakes recorded. The activity along the eruptive fissure has contracted by around 600 meters from its southern end, now concentrating around the central part of the fissure. Despite the contraction in the fissure, the most active area remains between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell.
Lava flow dynamics indicate significant progression, with the lava front crossing critical infrastructures like Grindavík road around 4:30 AM and later reaching the hot water pipeline known as the Njarðvík Line shortly before 8:00 AM. Satellite imagery captured in the early hours of the morning confirms that the lava field now spans nearly 7 square kilometers.
The initial measurements suggest that the volume of magma moving from Svartsengi towards the Sundhnúkur crater is approximately half of that observed during the August 22 eruption. Experts are conducting more detailed analyses to provide updates on the evolving volcanic activity.
Weather forecasts predict that winds from the northeast will carry gas pollution southward and westward, potentially affecting locations such as Grindavík, Svartsengi, and Reykjanesbær. Currently, the Icelandic Meteorological Office has elevated hazard levels, with Zone 3 experiencing very high hazard conditions and Zones 1, 4, and 6 raised to high hazard status.
While this eruption's magma accumulation beneath Svartsengi was similar to the previous event in August, it required a larger volume to trigger the current eruption. The recent trends suggest an increase in the volumes of magma necessary for future volcanic events, indicating a departure from observed patterns in previous eruptions.