GeoLog

geothermal

Iceland’s rootless volcanoes

February 7, 2019
Iceland’s rootless volcanoes
Rootless cones in Lake Mývatn, NE Iceland. These cones were formed when the Younger Laxá Lava inundated the lake approx. 2000 years ago. In total, there are over 1400 rootless cones around Mývatn, ranging in size from <2 m crater. Credit: Frances Boreham

Picture a volcano, like the one you learned about in primary school. Can you see it? Is it a big rocky mountain, perhaps with a bubbling pool of lava at the top? Is it perched above a chasm of subterranean molten rock? I bet you didn’t picture this: You’d be forgiven for mistaking these small volcanoes for a scene from the Lord of the Rings, or maybe a grassy version of the surface of Mars (in fac ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: The breath of our Earth

June 18, 2018
Imaggeo on Mondays: The breath of our Earth
The breath of our Earth. Credit: Handriyanti Diah Puspitarini (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

This picture was taken in the Myvatn geothermal area in southeast Iceland. Seeing the geothermal steam vent in this area while the temperature was -22 degrees Celsius is the best experience in Myvatn. The difference between Iceland’s cold ambient temperature and the released heat from inside the Earth is a really stunning event to see. Iceland is situated in the middle of two tectonic plates (the ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: Breath from the underground

June 26, 2017
Imaggeo on Mondays: Breath from the underground
Breath of the underground . Credit: Néstor Campos (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu).

The heat seeping from the geothermal area which is part of the Krafla volcanic system in Iceland, ‘powers’ the steaming vent at Hverir (Hverarönd). The area is well known for its mud pots and sulphuric gas fumaroles, complete with pungent eggy smell. Some of the vents are in fact boreholes drilled in the 50’s for sulphur exploration which have been turned into fumaroles, the steam is a resul ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: harnessing Earth’s inner heat

February 27, 2017
Imaggeo on Mondays: harnessing Earth’s inner heat
Leirhnjúkur area near Myvatn lake. Credit: Chiara Arrighi (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu).

Iceland, the land of ice and fire, is well known for its volcanicity. Most famously, it is home to Eyjafjallajökull: the volcano which caused wide spread mayhem across European airspace when it erupted in 2010. But not all the local volcanic activity is unwelcome. High temperature geothermal areas are a byproduct of the volcanic setting and the energy released can be used to power homes and infras ...[Read More]