A press reporter watching a new volcanic eruption that started on the Reykjanes Peninsula from Grindavikurvegur, the road to Grindavik in Iceland, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. The eruptions could last for centuries now that…
A press reporter watching a new volcanic eruption that started on the Reykjanes Peninsula from Grindavikurvegur, the road to Grindavik in Iceland, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. The eruptions could last for centuries now that the region has awoken from and 800 year slumber.
More
Marco di Marco/AP Photo
Lessons for the World From Reykjanes Eruptions
The Reykjanes eruptions are not just a challenge for Iceland but a case study for scientists worldwide. Researchers are using cutting-edge techniques to monitor magma reservoirs and study how pressure builds and releases.
These eruptions, while relatively small in scale, are shedding light on fundamental questions about Earth’s inner workings.
“One of the other things to answer is why does something sit peacefully for hundreds of years and then decide to switch on again?” asked Mather. “That’s a very fundamental question about how our Earth works.”
Challenges for the Future of Iceland
For Iceland’s government, the ongoing eruptions are a logistical and existential dilemma.
“How do you cope with long-term uncertainty, particularly if you once lived in Grindavík?” Pyle questioned.
“We have incredible capacity to measure what’s happening on the ground in real-time. However, these frequent eruptions pose significant challenges, particularly in the medium term.”
This photograph provided by Civil Protection in Iceland shows a new volcanic eruption that started on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. Residents in a local town and the Blue Lagoon…
This photograph provided by Civil Protection in Iceland shows a new volcanic eruption that started on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. Residents in a local town and the Blue Lagoon tourist attraction were evacuated.
More
Civil Protection in Iceland via AP
With communities, major tourist attractions like the Blue Lagoon—which draws in more than 1 million visitors per year—and power stations under threat, authorities have begun building protective barriers and levies to direct lava flow.
Whether such infrastructure will stand up to decades, possibly even centuries, of eruptions remains to be seen.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about volcanoes? Let us know via [email protected].
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=673f4b6802474c49b6d4f018d764ca7b&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsweek.com%2Ficeland-volcano-erupts-impacts-could-last-centuries-1989463&c=8318607229628464753&mkt=de-de
Author :
Publish date : 2024-11-21 05:30:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
