An Unforgettable Show: Erupting Volcano and Northern Lights Illuminate Iceland’s Southwest Coast
Nature’s Spectacle Captivates Iceland’s Southwest Coast
An unforgettable duo along Iceland’s southwest coast treated natural wonder aficionados to quite the sight this week: As lava spewed forth from the Earth, northern lights writhed overhead.
The Volcano Unleashes its Power
Sundhnukagigar, the responsible volcano, has erupted four times since December. It has since caused multiple evacuations and razed several houses in the nearby fishing town of Grindavik, while also breaching some access routes but largely missing critical infrastructure.
An Awakening 800 Years in the Making
The volcano, about 30 miles southwest of Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, sits on the Reykjanes Peninsula, in a zone that had not been active for 800 years before the recent eruptions.
A Stable Eruption, but Not Without Signs of Intensification
Small earthquakes and ceaseless but slow-moving lava flows have been staples throughout the series of events, including in recent days. The eruption is considered stable by the Icelandic Met Office, although some increased pressure and ground lift has been noted again lately amid generally reduced lava flow over the past few weeks. That could suggest that magma is refilling the chambers below the vents at the surface.
A Remarkable Endurance
In the current episode, Sundhnukagigar has been erupting for four weeks. It is the second-longest in recent years for the island, behind six months with the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption, according to the Associated Press.
Northern Lights Electrify the Sky
The aurora were enhanced by a minor to moderate geomagnetic storm. Alerts were issued by the Space Weather Prediction Center of the United States for high-latitude locations in the hemisphere Tuesday. Even without significant storming, Iceland’s northerly position on the globe makes it one of the hot spots for seeing the northern lights.
A Showstopping Display in the Pacific Northwest
During the pre-dawn hours Tuesday, parts of the Pacific Northwest also witnessed aurora shining brightly. Similar locations often need major geomagnetic storming to see the northern lights.
Unleashing the Power of the Sun
The sun is in its most active phase in decades, which increases the potential for space weather that can spark dramatic northern lights displays into the mid-latitudes as well as other geomagnetic disturbances.
