After Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted on March 19th, 2021, drone pilot Bjorn Steinbekk made news when he risked his DJI FPV drone for views from directly over the fissure and lava flows. The resulting video is a dramatic edit of the drone’s dangerous POV as it “crater surfs” from the newly-named Geldingardalsgos eruption.
Located around 40 kilometers (25 miles) outside of Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital city, the relatively small fissure was close enough for curious locals and sightseers to hike in for a perilous view. Unhealthy gas emissions (sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide) and wind conditions have since closed this area to the public.
According to research results, the emerging lava is “the most primitive lava the surface of Iceland has seen for over 7,000 years.” Some geological context from The Guardian:
The Krysuvik volcanic system has been inactive for the past 900 years, according to the meteorological office, while the last eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula dates back almost 800 years to 1240.
But the region has been under increased surveillance for several weeks after an earthquake of magnitude 5.7 was registered on 24 February on the outskirts of Reykjavik, followed by an unusual number of smaller tremors – more than 50,000, the highest number since digital recordings began in 1991.
Located between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates, among the largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic hotspot as the two plates move in opposite directions.
The source of the eruption is a large body of molten rock, known as magma, which has pushed its way to the surface over the past weeks, instigating the earthquakes.
YouTuber Just Icelandic also edited together a mesmerizing three-day time-lapse of the eruption from the RUV live feed:
Watch these related volcano videos next:
• Volcanic Eruptions 101: How It Happens
• Volcano Summer Camp
• Flying over Yasur Volcano as it erupts
• Time-lapse eruption videos of Chile’s Calbuco Volcano
• How USGS scientists monitor Kilauea Volcano’s ongoing eruptions
Bonus: Geothermal energy in Iceland.
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