New magma run or another volcanic eruption likely in the next weeks

Inflation in Svartsengi is continuing at an increasing rate and a new magma-run or volcanic eruption is likely in the coming weeks.

This is stated in a notice from the Icelandic Met Office, which states that the seismic activity at Svartsengi and Mt Sundhnúkur is very low and that few small earthquakes have been detected in recent days. The lava flowing towards the north of Mt Sýlingarfell continued to flow very slowly since the eruption ended on June 22 and has now completely ceased.

The latest deformation measurements (GNSS and InS-AR satellite images) show that the inflation under Svartsengi continues. The speed of the inflation increased after the eruption ended and is now greater than the speed measured before the eruption that began on May 29. The deformation speed can be interpreted as magma flowing into the magma chamber at a depth of 4-5 km will be continuing.

A team from the Icelandic Institute of Natural History and Land Surveys has analyzed data gathered by experts from the Efla, Verkís, and Svarmi on a drone flight over the eruption site on June 24. The data show that the lava field is now 9.3 km2 in area and has a volume of about 45 million m3.

“On these grounds, it can be assumed that the system will behave similarly as before and that a new magma intrusion and/or volcanic eruption will occur again in the Mt Sundhnúkur area in the coming weeks,” the announcement states.