Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice. Experts now say that the recent eruptions there likely means the 800 years of relative volcanic dormancy are over.
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00:00Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice, and for good reason.
00:07Much of the country is a frozen wasteland, with glaciers covering around 11% of the entire
00:12island nation.
00:13However, it also sits atop a volcanic hotspot, and experts now say that the recent eruptions
00:18there likely mean the 800 years of relative volcanic dormancy is over.
00:23Since 2021 alone, there have already been 8 eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
00:28Experts believe this is likely due to a filling magma chamber just 5-7 miles below the Earth's
00:33surface.
00:34They believe the chamber is around 6.2 miles wide, and it could spell more destruction
00:38for those that live in the area.
00:40The new research found that multiple eruptions had similar geochemical markers, meaning they
00:44likely were fed by the same magma chamber.
00:46With geologist and study author Valentin Troll saying about the findings, a comparison of
00:51current eruptions with historical events provides strong evidence that Iceland will have to
00:55prepare and be ready for this volcanic episode to continue, for some time, possibly even
01:00years to decades.
01:01With the researchers adding that Icelanders should expect even more frequent eruptions
01:05in the years to come.