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Geology of the Mediterranean
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Alas, Poor Grindavík Volume 2: Lava Invades the Town
It was inevitable, really. Iceland got lucky for the first four eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula, but when volcanoes are rolling dice in populated areas, they eventually get snake eyes and buildings burn. Grindavík had a Christmas reprieve, but the new year isn't starting off so well.
That's life on a reawakened volcanic peninsula.
From virtually the moment the 2023 Sundhnúkur...read more ❯
Alas, Poor Grindavík: Iceland Eruption Commences in a Terrible Location
The Reykajanes volcanic system just gave Iceland an awful early Christmas present: a brand new eruption in nearly the worst possible spot. Alas, we can't return it.
After a long period of quiet, a seismic swarm began just after 9 pm local time in the darkness of a December night. At around 10:20 pm, the ground split open and the magma that had intruded in a long dike over the last two months...read more ❯
Iceland Eruption Nearly Inevitable; Grindavík Could Go Under Lava
Up til now, volcanic eruptions on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula were benevolent tourist attractions. They put on pretty shows and confined themselves to remote, unpopulated areas, clustered around Fagradalsfjall. No important infrastructure was harmed. People got to hike up and safely experience the birth of a new volcano. It was as good as volcanic eruptions get.
Previous Fagradalsfall...read more ❯
When Whirlwinds Meet Hot Lava: Lava Devils!
There are so many things to see while watching a livestream of a volcanic eruption. Lava fountains, spatter cones being built up and falling down, turbulence in lava flows... and lava devils?!
Yes, indeed! Keep your focus on the left in the video below, and you'll see molten lava sucked up and flung about by a vigorous little whirlwind during Kilauea's latest summit eruption:
It seems...read more ❯
The 2023 Turkey Earthquakes: "It Felt Like It Would Never Be Over"
Turkey and Syria are reeling after being struck by two enormous earthquakes in quick succession. Both earthquakes occurred along the East Anatolian Fault Zone; between them and their aftershocks, the damage is catastrophic, and the death toll is already in the thousands and rapidly climbing.
The first earthquake, striking near Gaziantep at 4:17 am local time, was measured by the USGS as a...read more ❯
Eldfell Eruption: 50 Years Ago, a Village Fought the Lava and Won
Imagine going to sleep one night, and then being awakened in the small hours of the morning by a volcano that's suddenly erupting right beside your town. Fifty years ago, this was the scene for residents of the small Icelandic fishing town of Heimaey, on the island of the same name.
One day, I will write it up properly. It's an eruption that has fascinated me since childhood, and it's a...read more ❯
Video: Kilauea Eruption's Spectacular Return
After giving the world a lovely early midwinter gift with the first eruption of Mauna Loa in 38 years, Madam Pele took the holidays off. Kilauea's summit eruption paused on December 9th, possibly due to the relief of stress as its neighbor's reservoir emptied.* Mauna Loa's display ended on the 13th, and both volcanoes slumbered peacefully through the new year.
Pele returned to Kilauea with a...read more ❯
The Perfect Book for Coal Lovers (and Also Haters)
It's Coalmas! Around this time of the year, some people threaten to leave coal in our stockings like it's a bad thing. Pfft. Geologists know coal is actually a very amazing rock and very cool to have a lump of.
If you're not convinced that holding a several hundred year-old shiny black flammable vestige of a really unique geological era is a fabulous thing, or if you just want to marvel at its...read more ❯
Mauna Loa Erupts! What's Next?
After a long period of unrest, Mauna Loa volcano began erupting near midnight on November 27th. Is this eruption a big frigging deal? Is it going to destroy major Hawaiian cities? How did we get here? Let's delve!
First, you've gotta watch the first moments of the eruption though the USGS thermal camera at the summit. Watching a fissure split Moku'āweoweo caldera and fresh lava spill across...read more ❯
Campi Flegrei: A Video Introduction
Campi Flegrei, which is basically Italy's Yellowstone, has been getting awfully restless lately. So I thought we'd best pay it some attention.
After scaring the nine hells out of Pozzuoli in the 80s, the caldera went relatively quiet until 2005, when uplift resumed in earnest and seismic activity increased. The ground has risen by a meter since then. Now, that may not sound like much,...read more ❯