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.
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 refiling the chambers below the vents at the surface.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Abhinav Thawait is a globe-trotting correspondent with a passion for international affairs. With a background in international relations, he offers a global perspective on the most pressing issues around the world. Abhinav’s curiosity takes his to the far corners of the earth, where he seeks to share untold stories and diverse viewpoints.
