15 cm deformation in Svartsengi
Land in Svartsengi sank about 15 centimeters when magma ran from the magma chamber into the Sundhnúkagígar crater row when the eruption began.
The magma channel that was formed extends from Mt Stóra-Skógafell to Mt Hagafell. It is estimated that about 15 million cubic meters of magma have been released from the magma chamber that lies beneath Svartsengi.
This is stated in the announcement by the Met Office.
It also states that satellite images taken early this morning do not show significant movements of fissures within the defense walls at Grindavík.
Real-time deformation measurements also show that there hasn't been a significant deformation since last night.
The map shows the roughly approximate size of the lava bed as they were around 5 pm yesterday, or when the eruption had been going on for over four hours. The location of the eruption is also shown with dashed red lines. Map/The Icelandic Met Office
The greatest activity in the old crater
The volcanic activity has decreased significantly since the eruption began. The volcanic activity has been stable last night and this morning. There has also been no explosive activity since yesterday.
The volcanic activity is now at its highest near the crater that was most active in the volcanic fissure which began on March 16. Activity is also at several parts of the fissure north of the crater.
The lava flow is mostly in the area near Hagafell but the lava flow has slowed down along Grindavíkurvegur road across from Svartsengi and the defense walls west of Grindavík.
Challenging conditions
The conditions for aerial photography were challenging when experts from the image-recording team of the Icelandic Institute of Natural History and Land Measurement took a measurement flight over the eruption site where volcanic smoke covered part of the lava field.
The Meteorological Office reports that the data obtained during the air-image flights are being further processed. In addition, satellite imagery is being used to obtain a clearer picture of the flow of lava during the first hours of the eruption.