Sundhnúkur
The 2023 eruption taken by the Icelandic Meteorological Office on 18 December 2023
Highest point
Coordinates63°52′45″N 22°23′14″W / 63.87917°N 22.38722°W / 63.87917; -22.38722
Geography
Sundhnúkur is located in Iceland
Sundhnúkur
Sundhnúkur
Geology
Mountain typeCrater row, fissure vents
Last eruption2023

Sundhnúkur (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈsʏntˌn̥uːkʏr̥]) is a crater row and volcanic fissure in Iceland, part of the Reykjanes Peninsula rift zone.[1] It is the location of the 2023 Sundhnúkur eruption.

18 December 2023 eruption

On the evening of 18 December 2023, a volcanic eruption occurred at Sundhnúkur north of Grindavík,[2] with images showing lava spewing from fissures in the ground.[3] The intensity of the eruption and accompanying seismic activity which preceded it decreased early on 19 December, with lava seen spreading laterally from both sides of the newly opened fissures.[4]

Iceland's Meteorological Office said the eruption occurred at around 22:17 GMT following a series of small earthquakes at around 21:00.[5] It pinpointed the origin of the eruption near Hagafell,[6] about 4 km (2.5 mi) north-east of Grindavik, and noted that the eruption stemmed from a fissure with a length of about 3.5 km (2.2 mi), with lava flowing at a rate of around 100 to 200 cubic metres per second, adding that seismic activity appeared to be moving towards the direction of Grindavik. An Icelandic Civil Defence official told the public broadcaster RÚV that the eruption had happened quickly and appeared to be "quite a large event".[7] The eruption was described as the largest in the area since the beginning of activity in 2021,[4] and was visible as far away as the capital Reykjavik, 42 km (26 mi) away.[7]

By 19 December, the scent of smoke and ash was detected as far as 30 km (19 mi) from the eruption site, raising fears that volcanic gases could reach Reykjavik by the next day.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Jenness, Maria H.; Clifton, Amy E. (September 2009). "Controls on the geometry of a Holocene crater row: a field study from southwest Iceland". Bulletin of Volcanology. 71 (7): 715–728. Bibcode:2009BVol...71..715J. doi:10.1007/s00445-009-0267-9. S2CID 128405263.
  2. ↑ "Eruption on Reykjanes Peninsula". RÚV English. 18 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Iceland volcano: eruption begins on Reykjanes peninsula after weeks of activity". The Guardian. 19 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Volcano erupts on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula weeks after town evacuated". CNN. 19 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Iceland volcano erupts south of the capital Reykjavik following earthquake swarm". France 24. 19 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Volcano erupts on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula". CNN. 19 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Iceland volcano erupts on Reykjanes peninsula". BBC. 19 December 2023. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "Iceland volcano: Pollution warning for capital after eruption". BBC. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
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