Increased seismic activity beneath the Ljósufjöll volcanic system on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula suggests the area could be approaching a volcanic eruption, according to volcanologist Þorvaldur Þórðarson.
“What’s happening on Snæfellsnes, in my opinion, is that the system is preparing for an eruption,” Þorvaldur told mbl.is. “The seismic activity we’re seeing began at a depth of 20 kilometres and has now moved up to about 10 kilometres. It’s within that range.”
Although the timing remains uncertain, Þorvaldur estimates that an eruption could occur at any point within the next one to ten years. He added that current patterns indicate a two to three-year timeframe is plausible.
Previous eruptions in the area were preceded by magma rising from deep below the crust. “When the magma reaches 10 kilometres depth, it’s essentially preparing for an eruption,” he explained to the news agency.
While the Icelandic Meteorological Office has increased monitoring efforts in the region, Þorvaldur argues that more comprehensive observation is needed. He emphasised that Snæfellsnes, though quieter than some of Iceland’s more frequently erupting volcanic zones, is still part of an active volcanic belt.
