Has Iceland's Meradalir volcano spewed out all its magma?
Lava from this volcano, which erupted almost two weeks ago, almost stopped flowing on Sunday, scientists said.
“A caesura occurred in the eruption at Meradalir”, announced this Sunday noon the Meteorological Office of Iceland (IMO).
The activity visible at the level of the crater has gradually decreased over the past four days, only a small river of lava was still flowing nearby early this Sunday morning, a probable residual spill from underground channels, say the scientists.
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Another clue: the associated tremor - these weak and continuous vibrations recorded by seismographs, indicative of the level of volcanic activity - is now non-existent.
"Only time will tell whether seismic activity will pick up and erupt again in the near future or not," the institute responsible for monitoring seismic and volcanic activity said.
“There is still eruption risk and uncertainty in the region.
People are urged to be cautious when visiting the area,” IMO concluded.
67,000 curious people
The eruption, which began on August 3, and located less than 40 km from the Icelandic capital Reykjavik, revealed jets of molten lava, which turned into dark rock as the material cooled.
These jets of magma at around 1,200 degrees Celsius formed a projection cone 40 m high, from which thick white smoke escaped on Saturday.
The eruption quickly became one of the most popular spots in Iceland, attracting more than 67,000 people to the bumpy, steep paths leading to the volcano at Meradalir, according to the Icelandic Tourist Board.
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This second eruption in the Reykjanes region (southwest), in less than a year, suggests that this peninsula would emerge from a deep sleep, which could be the prelude to volcanic reactivation for decades (even centuries). ) coming.
Until March 2021, the last volcanic activity in the region dated back almost eight centuries and had spanned three decades with several eruptive episodes from 1210 to 1240.
Iceland has 32 volcanic systems currently considered active, the most in Europe.
On average, the country experiences an eruption every five years.
