However, on the flip side, volcanic eruptions also have negative impacts on the environment and health. Flowing lava can destroy homes, crops, forests, and other infrastructure. Wind-carried smoke and ash can pollute the air, disrupt breathing, and reduce visibility. Moreover, volcanic eruptions can affect the global climate by lowering temperatures and altering rainfall patterns.
According to Dr. Matthew Roberts, a volcanology expert from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, volcanic eruptions in Iceland are caused by the movement of magma beneath the Earth’s surface, seeking a way out through cracks in the Earth’s crust.
Iceland is situated above two major tectonic plates, the Eurasian and North American plates, which are moving away from each other. This makes Iceland one of the most volcanically active areas in the world.
“The speed is phenomenal. It’s the propagation of magma within a few kilometers that happens in just a few hours, passing right under the town of Grindavik like a freight train,” said Dr. Roberts.
Grindavik, a fishing town directly above the magma flow, was evacuated on November 11, 2023, due to the risk of facing “fire fountains” and dangerous gases.
Approximately 4,000 residents of the town had to leave their homes and belongings, seeking refuge in safer places.
