newsinsightplus.com 11s1980s March 1, 2024 0 Comments BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIsrael Gaza: Seven hostages killed, Hamas saysPublished23 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, ReutersImage caption, A demonstrator in Israel holds a poster with photos of the hostages during a rally calling for their releaseBy Alex BinleyBBC NewsSeven hostages being held in the Gaza Strip have died, Hamas said on Friday.The group blamed the deaths on Israeli bombardment and said a “number” of its fighters were also killed. It said the number of hostages killed might now exceed 70.The BBC has not been able to independently verify this.It was not immediately clear if these deaths were among the 31 hostages Israel believes have already died.There has been no comment yet from Israel, and Hamas did not provide substantiating evidence.Hamas took 253 hostages when gunmen launched an attack on southern Israel on 7 October, and killed about 1,200 people.Israel responded by launching a large-scale air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result, the Hamas-run health ministry says, and the UN is warning of a looming famine in the north of the country. In November, Hamas released 105 hostages as part of a temporary ceasefire deal with Israel, in exchange for Israel freeing 240 Palestinian prisoners. Israel says more than 100 hostages are still being held inside Gaza.It is not known when the reported deaths of the hostages took place.In a statement released on the Telegram account of the Qassam Brigades – Hamas’ armed wing – spokesman Abu Obeida appeared to suggest that the group was still interested in a deal with Israel to release the hostages in return for prisoners held by Israel. “We affirm that the price we will take in exchange for five or 10 living prisoners is the same price we would have taken in exchange for all the prisoners if the enemy’s bombing operations had not killed them,” the spokesman said.The release of hostages is one of the central points in ceasefire talks in Qatar which have been going on for months.The discussions are trying to secure a short-term ceasefire, during which hostages would gradually be released. Female civilians and soldiers would be freed first.In return, Palestinian prisoners, some of them convicted of serious terrorist offences, would be released from Israeli jails.Israeli soldiers might move away from some of Gaza’s most populated areas, and some of the 1.8 million Palestinians displaced by the fighting since October might be able to return to homes in the north.However, there are fears that the announcement of the hostages’ deaths, coupled with the deaths of at least 112 people during a Gaza aid delivery on Thursday, could hamper these talks.Hamas accused Israel of firing at civilians, but Israel said most died in a crush after it fired warning shots.After Thursday’s deaths, Hamas warned that talks in Qatar to try and secure a new ceasefire alongside the release of Israeli hostages it is holding could now be jeopardised.Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden had said he hoped a temporary ceasefire could be agreed by early next week but this is looking increasingly unlikely.On Friday, Mr Biden announced that “in the coming days” the US would take part in air drops of food into Gaza.”Innocent people got caught in a terrible war, unable to feed their families. And you saw the response when they tried to get aid,” he said.”We need to do more and the United States will do more.”The US announcement comes one day after Jordanian air force pilots dropped 33 tonnes of medical supplies and food into Gaza.According to the Washington Post, Jordanian planes have also dropped aid provided by the US and the UK, while planes from France, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have participated in similar operations.Air drops have been criticised by aid groups as costly and insufficient. “Oxfam does not support US air drops to Gaza, which would mostly serve to relieve the guilty consciences of senior US officials whose policies are contributing to the ongoing atrocities and risk of famine in Gaza,” the charity group said.”While Palestinians in Gaza have been pushed to the absolute brink, dropping a paltry, symbolic amount of aid into Gaza with no plan for its safe distribution would not help and be deeply degrading to Palestinians,” Oxfam said.It added that the US should instead work to “cut the flow of weapons to Israel”.On Friday, Nicaragua filed a case at the International Court of Justice, calling on it to stop Germany from giving military aid to Israel. Together with the US, Berlin is one of the largest arms exporters to Israel.Related TopicsIsrael-Gaza warHamasMore on this storyBiden announces US plan to airdrop aid to GazaPublished1 hour agoMore than 30,000 killed in Gaza, health ministry saysPublished1 day agoUN chief urges probe into Gaza aid convoy tragedyPublished2 hours agoIs a Gaza ceasefire deal in sight?Published1 day agoTop StoriesHow more than 100 Gazans were killed at a food aid dropPublished2 hours agoSeven hostages killed in Gaza, Hamas saysPublished23 minutes agoHow worried is Labour after losing Rochdale?Published5 hours agoFeaturesHow worried is Labour after losing Rochdale?Listen: Sunak’s Surprise Downing Street Speech. AudioListen: Sunak’s Surprise Downing Street SpeechAttributionSoundsHow big banks are becoming ‘Bitcoin whales’Weekly quiz: What word had Mary Poppins reaching for a spoonful of sugar?BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg marks St David’s Day on piano. VideoBBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg marks St David’s Day on pianoAnti-war hero or dangerous egoist? George Galloway makes his comebackWhere and when is Eurovision 2024 taking place?Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsWhy some singles are cutting things off after bad datesElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsInseparable from birthMeet the remarkable conjoined twins defying medical expectations with the support of their fatherAttributioniPlayerSixth time lucky!The journey to hosting the Winter Olympics for Canadian ski resort Whistler BlackcombAttributionSoundsMost Read1What video and eyewitness accounts tell us about Gazans killed at aid drop2Jools ‘can’t believe’ he’s finally hit number one3Thomas Kingston died from traumatic head wound4Three people injured in police pursuit shooting5Faroe Islands jumper uncovered 200 years later6Seven hostages killed in Gaza, Hamas says7UK-US flight diverts over ‘intoxicated’ passengers8Driver rescued from truck dangling off US bridge9How worried is Labour after losing Rochdale?10We must face down extremists, says Rishi Sunak [ad_1] The group blamed the deaths on Israeli bombardment and said a “number” of its fighters were also killed. Continue reading
newsinsightplus.com 11s1980s March 1, 2024 0 Comments BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIsrael Gaza: Seven hostages killed, Hamas saysPublished23 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, ReutersImage caption, A demonstrator in Israel holds a poster with photos of the hostages during a rally calling for their releaseBy Alex BinleyBBC NewsSeven hostages being held in the Gaza Strip have died, Hamas said on Friday.The group blamed the deaths on Israeli bombardment and said a “number” of its fighters were also killed. It said the number of hostages killed might now exceed 70.The BBC has not been able to independently verify this.It was not immediately clear if these deaths were among the 31 hostages Israel believes have already died.There has been no comment yet from Israel, and Hamas did not provide substantiating evidence.Hamas took 253 hostages when gunmen launched an attack on southern Israel on 7 October, and killed about 1,200 people.Israel responded by launching a large-scale air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result, the Hamas-run health ministry says, and the UN is warning of a looming famine in the north of the country. In November, Hamas released 105 hostages as part of a temporary ceasefire deal with Israel, in exchange for Israel freeing 240 Palestinian prisoners. Israel says more than 100 hostages are still being held inside Gaza.It is not known when the reported deaths of the hostages took place.In a statement released on the Telegram account of the Qassam Brigades – Hamas’ armed wing – spokesman Abu Obeida appeared to suggest that the group was still interested in a deal with Israel to release the hostages in return for prisoners held by Israel. “We affirm that the price we will take in exchange for five or 10 living prisoners is the same price we would have taken in exchange for all the prisoners if the enemy’s bombing operations had not killed them,” the spokesman said.The release of hostages is one of the central points in ceasefire talks in Qatar which have been going on for months.The discussions are trying to secure a short-term ceasefire, during which hostages would gradually be released. Female civilians and soldiers would be freed first.In return, Palestinian prisoners, some of them convicted of serious terrorist offences, would be released from Israeli jails.Israeli soldiers might move away from some of Gaza’s most populated areas, and some of the 1.8 million Palestinians displaced by the fighting since October might be able to return to homes in the north.However, there are fears that the announcement of the hostages’ deaths, coupled with the deaths of at least 112 people during a Gaza aid delivery on Thursday, could hamper these talks.Hamas accused Israel of firing at civilians, but Israel said most died in a crush after it fired warning shots.After Thursday’s deaths, Hamas warned that talks in Qatar to try and secure a new ceasefire alongside the release of Israeli hostages it is holding could now be jeopardised.Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden had said he hoped a temporary ceasefire could be agreed by early next week but this is looking increasingly unlikely.On Friday, Mr Biden announced that “in the coming days” the US would take part in air drops of food into Gaza.”Innocent people got caught in a terrible war, unable to feed their families. And you saw the response when they tried to get aid,” he said.”We need to do more and the United States will do more.”The US announcement comes one day after Jordanian air force pilots dropped 33 tonnes of medical supplies and food into Gaza.According to the Washington Post, Jordanian planes have also dropped aid provided by the US and the UK, while planes from France, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have participated in similar operations.Air drops have been criticised by aid groups as costly and insufficient. “Oxfam does not support US air drops to Gaza, which would mostly serve to relieve the guilty consciences of senior US officials whose policies are contributing to the ongoing atrocities and risk of famine in Gaza,” the charity group said.”While Palestinians in Gaza have been pushed to the absolute brink, dropping a paltry, symbolic amount of aid into Gaza with no plan for its safe distribution would not help and be deeply degrading to Palestinians,” Oxfam said.It added that the US should instead work to “cut the flow of weapons to Israel”.On Friday, Nicaragua filed a case at the International Court of Justice, calling on it to stop Germany from giving military aid to Israel. Together with the US, Berlin is one of the largest arms exporters to Israel.Related TopicsIsrael-Gaza warHamasMore on this storyBiden announces US plan to airdrop aid to GazaPublished1 hour agoMore than 30,000 killed in Gaza, health ministry saysPublished1 day agoUN chief urges probe into Gaza aid convoy tragedyPublished2 hours agoIs a Gaza ceasefire deal in sight?Published1 day agoTop StoriesHow more than 100 Gazans were killed at a food aid dropPublished2 hours agoSeven hostages killed in Gaza, Hamas saysPublished23 minutes agoHow worried is Labour after losing Rochdale?Published5 hours agoFeaturesHow worried is Labour after losing Rochdale?Listen: Sunak’s Surprise Downing Street Speech. AudioListen: Sunak’s Surprise Downing Street SpeechAttributionSoundsHow big banks are becoming ‘Bitcoin whales’Weekly quiz: What word had Mary Poppins reaching for a spoonful of sugar?BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg marks St David’s Day on piano. VideoBBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg marks St David’s Day on pianoAnti-war hero or dangerous egoist? George Galloway makes his comebackWhere and when is Eurovision 2024 taking place?Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsWhy some singles are cutting things off after bad datesElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsInseparable from birthMeet the remarkable conjoined twins defying medical expectations with the support of their fatherAttributioniPlayerSixth time lucky!The journey to hosting the Winter Olympics for Canadian ski resort Whistler BlackcombAttributionSoundsMost Read1What video and eyewitness accounts tell us about Gazans killed at aid drop2Jools ‘can’t believe’ he’s finally hit number one3Thomas Kingston died from traumatic head wound4Three people injured in police pursuit shooting5Faroe Islands jumper uncovered 200 years later6Seven hostages killed in Gaza, Hamas says7UK-US flight diverts over ‘intoxicated’ passengers8Driver rescued from truck dangling off US bridge9How worried is Labour after losing Rochdale?10We must face down extremists, says Rishi Sunak [ad_1] The group blamed the deaths on Israeli bombardment and said a “number” of its fighters were also killed. Continue reading
newsinsightplus.com 1240.Now2023Iceland February 10, 2024 0 Comments BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityScience & EnvironmentIs Iceland entering a new volcanic era?Published2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Dramatic aerials show fast lava spread after Iceland eruptionBy Rebecca Morelle and Alison Francis BBC News ScienceThis week, Iceland woke up to yet another day of fire, as towering fountains of lava lit up the dark morning sky.This time the evacuated town of Grindavik was spared, but the molten rock still wrought havoc – engulfing a pipe that provides heat and hot water to thousands living in the area and cutting off a road to the Blue Lagoon tourist attraction.It is the third short-lived eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since December 2023 and the sixth since 2021. But scientists think this is just the start of a period of volcanic activity that could last for decades or even centuries.So what is going on? Image source, ReutersImage caption, A road was swamped with lava in the most recent eruptionIceland is no stranger to volcanoes – it is one of the most volcanically active places in the world.That is because the country is positioned above a geological hotspot, where plumes of hot material deep within the Earth rise towards the surface. But Iceland also sits on the boundary between the Eurasian and North America tectonic plates. These plates are very slowly pulling apart from each other, creating a space for hot molten rock – or magma – to flow up. As the magma builds up underground, the pressure increases until it breaks through the surface in an eruption (at this point the hot rock is called lava). There are more than 100 volcanoes across Iceland and more than 30 are currently active. But the last time the Reykjanes peninsula saw any lava flow was hundreds of years ago – that may have started as early as the 8th or 9th Century and continued until 1240.Now the eruptions have started again – but why has there been an 800-year gap? “Over geological time, the tectonic plates are pulling apart at about the speed that your fingernails grow, so a few centimetres a year,” explains Prof Tamsin Mather, an Earth scientist from the University of Oxford.”But they don’t seem to smoothly pull apart – they go through these pulses of higher activity. And this is likely what we’re seeing right now in the Reykjanes.”The rocks in the region can reveal even more about the past – and they show a pattern of periods of quiet lasting around 1,000 years – followed by eruptions that continue for a few centuries.”There’s evidence for about three of these types of episodes in the last 4,000 years in this area” Prof Mather explains. “So this is proceeding as expected at the moment. And what we’re expecting is a series of these relatively small, relatively short-lived eruptions over the coming years and decades.”Image source, Getty Images/CopernicusImage caption, This satellite image shows the extent of the most recent eruptionWorking out how to predict when the eruptions will happen is a key concern for Iceland right now – especially as the town of Grindavik and a geothermal power plant – a key piece of national infrastructure – are in the danger zone.”Now that the eruptions are repeating themselves, scientists have a much better idea of what is happening,” explains Dr Evgenia Ilyinskaya, a volcanologist from the University of Leeds. “So they’ve been tracking how the ground is inflating as magma is coming out from deep below. And now they actually can tell with a lot more certainty than was possible when to expect the magma to start breaking through the ground.”Image source, ReutersImage caption, In January several houses were destroyed by an eruptionBut pinpointing exactly where an eruption will happen is harder. These aren’t cone-shaped volcanoes like Italy’s Mount Etna, for example, where the lava comes out at more or less the same place.In the Reykjanes Peninsula, the magma is held more loosely under a larger area – and it erupts through cracks – or fissures – that can be miles long.The Icelandic authorities are building large barriers around the town and power station – and these are good at holding lava back. But if a fissure opens up inside the barriers – as was the case in Grindavik in January when some houses were destroyed – not much can be done.A long period of eruptions will have major consequences for Iceland.”This is the most densely populated part of Iceland – so 70% of the population lives within 40km or so,” explains Dr Ilyinskaya.”And all of the key infrastructure is there – so the main international airport, big geothermal power plants, and a lot of tourist infrastructure too, which is a big part of Iceland’s economy.”Key roads being cut off by lava flow and air pollution from the eruptions are just some of the risks.The country’s capital Reykjavik also has the potential to be impacted, says Dr Ilyinskaya.”One scenario that would be hazardous for Reykjavik (Iceland’s capital) is if the eruptions move further east along the peninsula – there are lava flows from 1,000 years ago from the last eruptive cycle that are in what is now Reykjavik, so based on that it is not unfeasible that the lava flows could flow there in future eruptions”So is there a way to predict what will happen in the longer term?Scientists are looking at a number of different volcanic systems that sit across the peninsula.”In the last cycle, the first eruptions started in the systems to the east and migrated to the west, with a few fits and starts here and there,” explains Dr Dave McGarvie from Lancaster University. This time, the first eruptions – which started in 2021 – happened in a system that sits more in the middle of the peninsula.”That system now just seems to have completely switched off – there’s no clear indication of a gathering of magma beneath it. We don’t know whether that’s temporary or whether it’s a permanent thing and it may never erupt again in this cycle.”The most recent eruptions, which began in December, are now in a neighbouring system a little further west.Image source, EPAImage caption, Scientists are learning more with every eruptionDr McGarvie says scientists can get an idea of how much magma is held underground – and whether it is likely to shift away from Grindavik and the power station to another neighbouring volcanic system. “If they saw the rate of magma inflow declining, then that would be an indication that perhaps it’s starting to switch off and if so it may take a few months for it to completely die down.”The question then would be is this a temporary lull or is it actually the end of this phase of activity – we’re into unknown territory at that point.”Scientists are learning more with every eruption, but there’s still a great deal of uncertainty for Iceland as a new volcanic era begins. Follow Rebecca on X (formerly known as Twitter)Related TopicsVolcanoesIcelandMore on this storyThey fled as lava spilled into town – and they may never returnPublished6 days agoIceland lava slowing down after day of destructionPublished15 JanuaryWhy this Iceland volcano won’t cause flight chaosPublished19 December 2023Iceland volcano: What could the impact be?Published14 November 2023Top StoriesClapham attack: Police to search Thames for suspect’s bodyPublished1 hour agoIsraeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts sayPublished8 hours agoEx-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actionsPublished4 hours agoFeaturesDinosaur Island: 40 years of discoveries on SkyeThe Papers: Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with FergieIs Iceland entering a new volcanic era?Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routinesCash-strapped clubbers make their nights out countHave we lost faith in tech?Swift, swimming and snow: Photos of the weekAn ‘impossible’ country tests its hard-won democracyWeekly quiz: Who beat Miley to win Song Of The Year?Elsewhere on the BBCBritain’s toughest job interview is backLord Sugar’s class of 2024 chase the ultimate investmentAttributioniPlayerThe art of healthy eatingProfessor Tim Spector offers a new approach to the way we eat foodAttributionSoundsThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerExpensive vs High Street skincare products…investigating whether more expensive face creams really are worth the moneyAttributionSoundsMost Read1Man’s indefinite sentence a ‘serious injustice’2Ex-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actions3Tory donors and 27-year-old among new peers4Mum found under coat in A&E died days later5Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with Fergie6Police to search Thames for Clapham attack suspect7Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routines8Israeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts say9Cash-strapped clubbers make their nights out count10Is Iceland entering a new volcanic era? [ad_1] Scientists think eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula could continue for decades or even centuries. Continue reading
newsinsightplus.com 1240.Now2023Iceland February 10, 2024 0 Comments BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityScience & EnvironmentIs Iceland entering a new volcanic era?Published2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Dramatic aerials show fast lava spread after Iceland eruptionBy Rebecca Morelle and Alison Francis BBC News ScienceThis week, Iceland woke up to yet another day of fire, as towering fountains of lava lit up the dark morning sky.This time the evacuated town of Grindavik was spared, but the molten rock still wrought havoc – engulfing a pipe that provides heat and hot water to thousands living in the area and cutting off a road to the Blue Lagoon tourist attraction.It is the third short-lived eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since December 2023 and the sixth since 2021. But scientists think this is just the start of a period of volcanic activity that could last for decades or even centuries.So what is going on? Image source, ReutersImage caption, A road was swamped with lava in the most recent eruptionIceland is no stranger to volcanoes – it is one of the most volcanically active places in the world.That is because the country is positioned above a geological hotspot, where plumes of hot material deep within the Earth rise towards the surface. But Iceland also sits on the boundary between the Eurasian and North America tectonic plates. These plates are very slowly pulling apart from each other, creating a space for hot molten rock – or magma – to flow up. As the magma builds up underground, the pressure increases until it breaks through the surface in an eruption (at this point the hot rock is called lava). There are more than 100 volcanoes across Iceland and more than 30 are currently active. But the last time the Reykjanes peninsula saw any lava flow was hundreds of years ago – that may have started as early as the 8th or 9th Century and continued until 1240.Now the eruptions have started again – but why has there been an 800-year gap? “Over geological time, the tectonic plates are pulling apart at about the speed that your fingernails grow, so a few centimetres a year,” explains Prof Tamsin Mather, an Earth scientist from the University of Oxford.”But they don’t seem to smoothly pull apart – they go through these pulses of higher activity. And this is likely what we’re seeing right now in the Reykjanes.”The rocks in the region can reveal even more about the past – and they show a pattern of periods of quiet lasting around 1,000 years – followed by eruptions that continue for a few centuries.”There’s evidence for about three of these types of episodes in the last 4,000 years in this area” Prof Mather explains. “So this is proceeding as expected at the moment. And what we’re expecting is a series of these relatively small, relatively short-lived eruptions over the coming years and decades.”Image source, Getty Images/CopernicusImage caption, This satellite image shows the extent of the most recent eruptionWorking out how to predict when the eruptions will happen is a key concern for Iceland right now – especially as the town of Grindavik and a geothermal power plant – a key piece of national infrastructure – are in the danger zone.”Now that the eruptions are repeating themselves, scientists have a much better idea of what is happening,” explains Dr Evgenia Ilyinskaya, a volcanologist from the University of Leeds. “So they’ve been tracking how the ground is inflating as magma is coming out from deep below. And now they actually can tell with a lot more certainty than was possible when to expect the magma to start breaking through the ground.”Image source, ReutersImage caption, In January several houses were destroyed by an eruptionBut pinpointing exactly where an eruption will happen is harder. These aren’t cone-shaped volcanoes like Italy’s Mount Etna, for example, where the lava comes out at more or less the same place.In the Reykjanes Peninsula, the magma is held more loosely under a larger area – and it erupts through cracks – or fissures – that can be miles long.The Icelandic authorities are building large barriers around the town and power station – and these are good at holding lava back. But if a fissure opens up inside the barriers – as was the case in Grindavik in January when some houses were destroyed – not much can be done.A long period of eruptions will have major consequences for Iceland.”This is the most densely populated part of Iceland – so 70% of the population lives within 40km or so,” explains Dr Ilyinskaya.”And all of the key infrastructure is there – so the main international airport, big geothermal power plants, and a lot of tourist infrastructure too, which is a big part of Iceland’s economy.”Key roads being cut off by lava flow and air pollution from the eruptions are just some of the risks.The country’s capital Reykjavik also has the potential to be impacted, says Dr Ilyinskaya.”One scenario that would be hazardous for Reykjavik (Iceland’s capital) is if the eruptions move further east along the peninsula – there are lava flows from 1,000 years ago from the last eruptive cycle that are in what is now Reykjavik, so based on that it is not unfeasible that the lava flows could flow there in future eruptions”So is there a way to predict what will happen in the longer term?Scientists are looking at a number of different volcanic systems that sit across the peninsula.”In the last cycle, the first eruptions started in the systems to the east and migrated to the west, with a few fits and starts here and there,” explains Dr Dave McGarvie from Lancaster University. This time, the first eruptions – which started in 2021 – happened in a system that sits more in the middle of the peninsula.”That system now just seems to have completely switched off – there’s no clear indication of a gathering of magma beneath it. We don’t know whether that’s temporary or whether it’s a permanent thing and it may never erupt again in this cycle.”The most recent eruptions, which began in December, are now in a neighbouring system a little further west.Image source, EPAImage caption, Scientists are learning more with every eruptionDr McGarvie says scientists can get an idea of how much magma is held underground – and whether it is likely to shift away from Grindavik and the power station to another neighbouring volcanic system. “If they saw the rate of magma inflow declining, then that would be an indication that perhaps it’s starting to switch off and if so it may take a few months for it to completely die down.”The question then would be is this a temporary lull or is it actually the end of this phase of activity – we’re into unknown territory at that point.”Scientists are learning more with every eruption, but there’s still a great deal of uncertainty for Iceland as a new volcanic era begins. Follow Rebecca on X (formerly known as Twitter)Related TopicsVolcanoesIcelandMore on this storyThey fled as lava spilled into town – and they may never returnPublished6 days agoIceland lava slowing down after day of destructionPublished15 JanuaryWhy this Iceland volcano won’t cause flight chaosPublished19 December 2023Iceland volcano: What could the impact be?Published14 November 2023Top StoriesClapham attack: Police to search Thames for suspect’s bodyPublished1 hour agoIsraeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts sayPublished8 hours agoEx-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actionsPublished4 hours agoFeaturesDinosaur Island: 40 years of discoveries on SkyeThe Papers: Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with FergieIs Iceland entering a new volcanic era?Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routinesCash-strapped clubbers make their nights out countHave we lost faith in tech?Swift, swimming and snow: Photos of the weekAn ‘impossible’ country tests its hard-won democracyWeekly quiz: Who beat Miley to win Song Of The Year?Elsewhere on the BBCBritain’s toughest job interview is backLord Sugar’s class of 2024 chase the ultimate investmentAttributioniPlayerThe art of healthy eatingProfessor Tim Spector offers a new approach to the way we eat foodAttributionSoundsThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerExpensive vs High Street skincare products…investigating whether more expensive face creams really are worth the moneyAttributionSoundsMost Read1Man’s indefinite sentence a ‘serious injustice’2Ex-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actions3Tory donors and 27-year-old among new peers4Mum found under coat in A&E died days later5Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with Fergie6Police to search Thames for Clapham attack suspect7Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routines8Israeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts say9Cash-strapped clubbers make their nights out count10Is Iceland entering a new volcanic era? [ad_1] Scientists think eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula could continue for decades or even centuries. Continue reading