Reykjanes volcano update: eruption continues at two vents

Stunning aerial view of the current eruption site and Grindavík (bottom right) (image: Volc-Han-ology/twitter)

The decreasing activity at the eruption site continues.

As we reported in the last update, small fire fountains had continued from three eruptive vents. Meanwhile, the situation has changed, and the activity has been limited to two fissure vents. The main protagonist of the eruptive episode has become near-constant spattering rather than fountaining itself, which dominated the activity so far. Gas slugs burst at vents, generating strombolian-style spattering of molten pyroclasts and gradually constructing a new cinder cone around the vent, typically described as a „new volcano“. The most intense activity continues at the southernmost vent so far.
Emissions of incandescent, fluid lava by spattering and lava flows continue to feed the field of lava towards the east, but there are several lava arms as well advancing west-northwest of the Stóra-Skógfell. Based on satellite images acquired yesterday, scientists estimate the lava flow area to be about 3.7 km2.

Source: Icelandic Met Office volcano activity update 20 December 2023