Published December 19, 2023
Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula was always pushing its luck, and it finally ran out on December 18. The eruption that ensued, the fourth in less than three years, marked a dangerous turn in the region’s volcanic activity.
After a swarm of earthquakes signaled an impending eruption, the volcano began spewing out lava at a rate ten times higher than previous peaks. The fissure itself expanded to an astonishing 2.5 miles in a matter of minutes, creating a spectacular but scary sight.
It was in March 2021 that the Reykjanes Peninsula broke its millennium-long dormancy and entered a new volcanic era. The past three eruptions had been awe-inspiring, both scientifically and visually. But this latest eruption, reminiscent of a period that occurred in the early 13th century, held the world captivated.
What made this fourth eruption so captivating, however, were its unusual buildup, the potential threat to nearby towns, and the general level of unpredictability surrounding it.
“In the context of the past three years, it is pretty mind-blowing,” says Tom Winder, a volcano seismologist at the University of Iceland.
Although a third of the fissure remains active, the eruption’s output has greatly diminished. Scientists across the globe are now fascinated by this eruption, gathering clues to its origins to better understand this volatile volcanic behavior.
Contrary to popular belief, all four recent eruptions in the Reykjanes Peninsula have been fissure-style rather than from a volcano. They occur unpredictably around the world but aren’t as well known as traditional volcanic eruptions.
What sets this latest eruption apart from its predecessors is that it occurred near the popular tourism spot Blue Lagoon spa and a critical geothermal power plant. This unexpected twist added to the already high level of interest in this extraordinary event.