Examining whether magmatic gas causes uplift

"In our minds, it matters considerably to know, if possible, whether magma is accumulating directly beneath Svartsengi, or whether magmatic gas is possibly accumulating there from magma upflow farther away, possibly from an independent magma upflow beneath the Sundhnúkur crater row.

"In our minds, it matters considerably to know, if possible, whether magma is accumulating directly beneath Svartsengi, or whether magmatic gas is possibly accumulating there from magma upflow farther away, possibly from an independent magma upflow beneath the Sundhnúkur crater row.

The only way to find this out is to apply gravity measurements and try to calculate the density of the material causing the uplift. Further geoscientific measurements and research will then, over time, give a clearer picture of the events taking place there," says Egill Árni Guðnason, geophysicist at Iceland GeoSurvey, ISOR, in conversation with Morgunblaðið.

Measurements in cooperation with foreign scientists

Later this month, so-called gravity measurements will begin on the Reykjanes Peninsula, with the goal of trying to find out whether magma causes the uplift in the area, gas, or a combination of both. The measurements will be carried out under the leadership of ISOR in cooperation with Czech and German scientists. Egill Árni leads the project on behalf of ISOR.

Gravity measurements were made on the Reykjanes Peninsula in 2020 but there was no follow-up to them, which is unfortunate, in Egill Árni's opinion. Now there are plans to remedy that and resume them under the leadership of ÍSOR.

More can be read about the matter in Morgunblaðið