Ármann Höskuldsson, professor of volcanology, believes that it will take about ten years for the volcano system that is currently active on the Reykjanes Peninsula to release all tension. Then it is really possible to map all the dangers that lurk in Grindavík and secure the area again.

    In Dagmál today, Ármann says the biggest danger in Grindavík is caused by large ancient rocks under the man-made stratum in the town. This weekend, the Road Administration began mapping the soil in the municipality with a special geodetic telescope to investigate holes and cracks under Grindavík.

    “Once we’re done with this, we can start designing something to prevent them from continuing to be dangerous.” When it’s over, assuming everything goes over and the earth stops moving, Grindavík will be back to how it was before the movements,” says Ármann.

    The greatest danger is inside the town

    Ármann explains that the danger is greatest inside the town because the man-made subsurface reacts differently than the rest of the earth’s surface.

    “The main problem in Grindavík now is that the lava, which Grindavík is built on, has opened up and there are gaping craters. But the man-made layer that lies on top does not respond in the same way. We don’t get the crack all the way to the surface. It is under there and then it takes time for the man-made layer to sink into the crack and then a cavity is revealed. That makes the area very dangerous,” says Ármann.

    He says he is waiting for Eldvörp to start showing increased activity, because as soon as there is a release of tension there, the system around Grindavík will relax. He says the center of this volcanic system is under Eldvörp.

    https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2024/01/23/gapandi_gimold_undir_grindavik/

    A great source of unique information about life in Iceland and is here in this amazing Icelandic TV website:

    https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2024-01-14-thegar-jordin-opnadist-401927

    And here is their amazing YouTube live stream (please remember to subscribe and like their YouTube channel) :

    https://youtube.com/@ruvohf?si=bzasNQljeqkKKw94

    You can watch the helicopter flight of my colleagues at Icelandic Coast Guard here:

    https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2024/01/15/myndskeid_flogid_yfir_grindavik_i_dag/

    You can also watch the eruption live here in mbl.is. Please remember to subscribe and like their YouTube channel here:

    Latest news and maps :

    https://www.vedur.is/um-vi/frettir/jardskjalftahrina-nordan-vid-grindavik-hofst-i-nott

    A 3D model has been made of the lava as it looked this afternoon.

    The Geoscience Institute of HÍ reports this in an announcement.

    It is noted that the mapping of the lava is a collaborative project of many parties.

    “In Iceland, it is mainly the Icelandic Natural Science Institute and the Icelandic Land Survey, as well as the University’s Geosciences Institute and the Meteorological Office, together with the Civil Defence.

    Geochemistry is mainly done at the University’s Institute of Geosciences. Gas measurements are carried out by experts from the Norwegian Meteorological Agency and people from the Geosciences Foundation.

    A large group of experts at the above-mentioned institutions, technical staff at laboratories and postdoctoral fellows at the Institute of Earth Sciences will therefore come to work.”

    Please watch and study the 3D model here :

    You can read about it here:

    https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2024/01/14/thrividdarlikan_af_nyja_hrauninu/

    The lava that has flowed from the fissure north of Grindavík has changed the landscape there considerably, since the eruption erupted at 7.57 am Sunday morning.

    This can be clearly seen in the attached video, where there is a switch between Verkís’ image, with a drawn defensive wall north of the town, and a 3D model of the lava as it looked from the air yesterday afternoon.

    Before and after images are courtesy of Birkir here:

    https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2024/01/15/myndir_syna_landslagid_fyrir_og_eftir_gos/

    The lava that has flowed from the fissure north of Grindavík has changed the landscape there considerably, since the eruption erupted at 7.57 am Sunday morning.

    This can be clearly seen in the attached video, where there is a switch between Verkís’ image, with a drawn defensive wall north of the town, and a 3D model of the lava as it looked from the air yesterday afternoon.

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