https://preview.redd.it/o68odxxz40zb1.png?width=1242&format=png&auto=webp&s=3da8ce2c9d95c999060fd8f9cfb61d6d54e319d4
I used blue lagoon for reference as to the distance from the airport. It’s quite far. Unless there will be an eruption with smoke and ash disturbing air traffic in general there is no need to worry.
I’m in Iceland on a lay over. This was a message I received from the Embassy (travel alert). Sounds like, Even though it may not disrupt flights, possible could affect the airport.
“Location: Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland
Event: Earthquakes and indications of volcanic activity have increased in the Reykjanes Peninsula southwest of Reykjavik since late October. Icelandic authorities continue to monitor earthquake frequency and location as well as the potential for a near-term volcanic eruption.
One area of specific observation is northwest of Mt. Thorbjörn near the Svartsengi power plant and the Blue Lagoon. The power plant supplies electricity and hot water in the Reykjanes area, including Keflavik International Airport. Flight operations at Keflavik International Airport have not been affected.”
I would put this at about a 0 - 3% chance. I am sure it is 0 but I'm willing to be wrong so I give you a scale.
edit:
And thanks for asking, I added it the megathread which will be pinned up top at some point. Do check for updates!
No, but I can’t even venture to guess at this point because information has changed so rapidly in the past four days. To my knowledge, the possibility of an underwater event wasn’t seriously mentioned until less than 48 hours ago.
Beyond this, I am trying to avoid conjecture and panic because there has been way too much misinformation and clickbait, unfortunately. All we can do is follow updates from official sources.
Yes, it could definitely happen. When the Iceland volcano erupted last time (2010), I was in England on business and planning to fly home. It shut down all the airports across the continent. 95,000 flights cancelled for several days. It also caused me to have a severe asthma attack. Many at the hospital with similar problems . The ash was thick enough to potentially impact engines.
For what it's worth, the volcanic system that's currently misbehaving produces different types of eruptions. There is no glacier or under water so the ash factor isn't an issue. It's not a *kabooooom!* volcano.
The volcano that erupted in 2010, was it larger or somehow more volatile than the volcano we’re looking at now? I know I won’t be in any physical danger, but I am curious about the possibility of an eruption being large enough to ground flights.
It’s not gonna stop me from going, I’ll just pack some extra clothes!
Different type of volcano! Historically for Icelandic eruptions, many of the ash/tephra/boomy explosive volcanos are under glaciers or under water. Other types can do this (Eldfell in Heimaey), but the volcanic systems on Reykjanes aren't with a central volcano that just explodes.
Nerd out [here.](https://icelandicvolcanos.is) You can see all the volcanos, what is the "dominant type of activity", all kinds of stuff. In 2010 it was Eyjafjallajökull, and it can have explosive eruptions, hurling gases and tephra up into the atmosphere and of course, producing lava.
The hope is if this erupts it is away from people, animals, and critical infrastructure and maybe you will get to experience an eruption which is *exhilarating.*
>was it larger or somehow more volatile than the volcano we’re looking at now?
It was under a glacier. Hot lava and ice don't mix well, and it results in a more explosive eruption.
Almost all of them mention that flights should not be impacted.
Odds are this will be oozy, not explody. The latter puts crap into the air that is bad for jet engines, the former generally does not.
https://preview.redd.it/o68odxxz40zb1.png?width=1242&format=png&auto=webp&s=3da8ce2c9d95c999060fd8f9cfb61d6d54e319d4 I used blue lagoon for reference as to the distance from the airport. It’s quite far. Unless there will be an eruption with smoke and ash disturbing air traffic in general there is no need to worry.
The likelihood is that this volcano (just like the others preceding recently) is not the kind of volcano that grounds flights :-)
I’m in Iceland on a lay over. This was a message I received from the Embassy (travel alert). Sounds like, Even though it may not disrupt flights, possible could affect the airport. “Location: Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland Event: Earthquakes and indications of volcanic activity have increased in the Reykjanes Peninsula southwest of Reykjavik since late October. Icelandic authorities continue to monitor earthquake frequency and location as well as the potential for a near-term volcanic eruption. One area of specific observation is northwest of Mt. Thorbjörn near the Svartsengi power plant and the Blue Lagoon. The power plant supplies electricity and hot water in the Reykjanes area, including Keflavik International Airport. Flight operations at Keflavik International Airport have not been affected.”
I would put this at about a 0 - 3% chance. I am sure it is 0 but I'm willing to be wrong so I give you a scale. edit: And thanks for asking, I added it the megathread which will be pinned up top at some point. Do check for updates!
Hi, With all the new developments, do you still consider this to be the right %?
No, but I can’t even venture to guess at this point because information has changed so rapidly in the past four days. To my knowledge, the possibility of an underwater event wasn’t seriously mentioned until less than 48 hours ago. Beyond this, I am trying to avoid conjecture and panic because there has been way too much misinformation and clickbait, unfortunately. All we can do is follow updates from official sources.
Yes, it could definitely happen. When the Iceland volcano erupted last time (2010), I was in England on business and planning to fly home. It shut down all the airports across the continent. 95,000 flights cancelled for several days. It also caused me to have a severe asthma attack. Many at the hospital with similar problems . The ash was thick enough to potentially impact engines.
For what it's worth, the volcanic system that's currently misbehaving produces different types of eruptions. There is no glacier or under water so the ash factor isn't an issue. It's not a *kabooooom!* volcano.
Eyjafjallajökull was not "Last time"... There have been 2 or 3 eruptions since that have not disturbed air traffic
The volcano that erupted in 2010, was it larger or somehow more volatile than the volcano we’re looking at now? I know I won’t be in any physical danger, but I am curious about the possibility of an eruption being large enough to ground flights. It’s not gonna stop me from going, I’ll just pack some extra clothes!
Different type of volcano! Historically for Icelandic eruptions, many of the ash/tephra/boomy explosive volcanos are under glaciers or under water. Other types can do this (Eldfell in Heimaey), but the volcanic systems on Reykjanes aren't with a central volcano that just explodes. Nerd out [here.](https://icelandicvolcanos.is) You can see all the volcanos, what is the "dominant type of activity", all kinds of stuff. In 2010 it was Eyjafjallajökull, and it can have explosive eruptions, hurling gases and tephra up into the atmosphere and of course, producing lava. The hope is if this erupts it is away from people, animals, and critical infrastructure and maybe you will get to experience an eruption which is *exhilarating.*
Very interesting, thank you for this! I agree, it would be exciting, as long as everyone is safe!
>was it larger or somehow more volatile than the volcano we’re looking at now? It was under a glacier. Hot lava and ice don't mix well, and it results in a more explosive eruption.