Volcanic Eruption Expected
to Help Economy in Iceland
The Icelandic volcano Fagradalsfjall in the Meradalir
valley began a strong lava eruption on 3 August2022. The volcano is located in an unpopulated area
so it is not causing any local damage. Also, thelevels of ash emissions are relatively low, so it is not
disrupting airline traffic, as Eyjafjallajökull did in
2010. On the contrary, there is the hope that theeruption will be good for the Iceland economy byattracting many tourists. The volcano is locatedabout 1 hour drive from the largest city of Reykjavik
and because of the type of effusive eruption, people
can walk quite close to the volcano relatively safely.
This is providing a rare opportunity for people tohave a close encounter with an erupting volcano.
I visited the volcano on 12 August 2022.
James Mori

The volcano viewpoint is about a 2 hour
hike from the parking lot.
This photo shows the first part of the trail
which is easy to walk. The path is very
good because it also leads to the site of the2021 eruption last year. During that time,
the condition of the trail was greatly
improved.
The 2nd half of the hike to the 2022
eruption is more difficult with lots of rocks
and no clear path. It is not recommended
for small children or people not in good
physical condition. However, to encourage
visitors, they are currently working toimprove the path and every day the portionof the trail that is in good condition is beingextended.
.

The hike passes the large lava flow (darkgray rocks) from the 2021 eruption.
The activity in March to September 2021
was similar to the current eruption, but in aslightly different location. The volcano
attracted several hundred thousand
Icelandic and foreign observers. However,
because of the travel restrictions due to theCovid pandemic, there were relatively few
foreign visitors.
This year with the
improved health conditions, Iceland ishoping that the presently erupting volcano
will attract more foreign tourists.

This is the current main vent which opened
on 3 August 2022 as part of a 360 meterlong fissure eruption. The eruption ispresently no longer a fissure eruption, butconcentrated from this one main vent anda spatter cone is being built up. The blackrocks are new lava which flowed out during
the past 9 days.
.

Since the eruptive style is mainly aneffusive lava eruption with relatively
low explosive activity, it seems fairly
safe to observe at close distances ofless than 1 km. Of course, volcanoes
are always dangerous and a sudden
large explosion or a sudden change
in the location of the vent ispossible.
The physical and volcanic conditions
here are unique and enable people
to approach close to an erupting
volcano.
.

At the close distance where the people
are sitting in the photo, you can feelthe heat and hear the sounds of thelava fountaining. The temperature ofthe erupting lava is over 1000 oC.

This is another photo of the current lava
fountaining.
The eruption last year in 2021 lasted for 6 months
from March to September. The Iceland tourist
industry is hoping that the 2022 eruption will also
last for a similar or longer duration and attract
many foreign visitors.

.

https://youtu.be/IWPjhpn63uM