When a year ago Thorbjorn was inflating and seemed at risk of erupting, we put out a post to describe the volcanics of the Reykjanes peninsula. The front picture of the post was of a small cone no one had ever heard of. And now, a year later, that cone is at the centre of attention. Keilir.
Reykjanes is the dark horse of Icelandic volcanism. It is far from the hot spot, and has not erupted since the middle ages. It has been 800 years since the last eruption. It seemed safe enough to build both Iceland’s capital and its major airport here. But there is power hiding here. 3 km3 of holocenic lava is located in between Reykjavik and its airport, Keflavik. I should say that neither of these two are in danger from the current activity. But Reyjavikonians may now find themselves with a front seat to an eruption – and hope that the wind blows the sulfur away from the capital. The prevailing wind here is easterly – putting Reykjavik downwind of Reykjanes.
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