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This is a much better introduction to what has happened this week; the original article gives absolutely no context about the related volcanic activity. TLDR;
by coryfklein 3y ago
This is a much better introduction to what has happened this week; the original article gives absolutely no context about the related volcanic activity.
TLDR; Grindavík is located in Iceland, a country known for its volcanic activity. Earthquakes and land deformation have exploded in frequency in the area under and around the small town of 4,000 people and geologists expect a volcanic eruption is imminent. The town has been evacuated.
- ptero 3y agoTo add a note that while 4000 people is a small town almost anywhere, it is over 1% of Iceland's population. So the impact on the country is non negligible. My 2c.
- brewdad 3y agoIt also sits about 5 miles from Iceland's only international airport, so could prove especially disruptive to the entire nation.
- lastofthemojito 3y ago> Iceland's only international airport That's not strictly the case. For example, Akureyri has some international flights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akureyri_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akureyri_Airport Keflavík is obviously the only major international airport in Iceland though. A while back I remember hearing a proposal about expanding the airport in Egilsstaðir to be capable of replacing Keflavík if (when?) it is disrupted by lava flow. I think it proved too expensive for much action to be taken though. It would be interesting logistically to see what would happen if Keflavík was knocked out of service.
- brucethemoose2 3y agoI wonder how many airports in the world are at such significant risk of "lava flow" and other catastrophic natural disasters. I actually see Tampa International this way. Its literally on the coast, and just barely missed near two near Cat-5 hurricanes in two years. And that risk is not shrinking.
- don_esteban 3y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Mount_Nyiragongo_eruption https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Mount_Nyiragongo_eruption Lava flows came very close to Goma airport
- Kon-Peki 3y ago> I wonder how many airports in the world are at such significant risk of "lava flow" and other catastrophic natural disasters It looks like Kilauea lava flows in the 1880s came within a mile or two of the site of Hilo International Airport. Lava flows earlier this year were heading in that direction. It also appears as though the airport was hit by tsunamis in the 1950s and 1960s.
- chanandler_bong 3y agoREK can also handle most jets if necessary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjav%C3%ADk_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjav%C3%ADk_Airport
- thefringthing 3y ago> I think it proved too expensive for much action to be taken though. Iceland beginning, let alone completing, a major infrastructure project in the 21st century? Impossible.
- bentt 3y agoWhat’s the issue? Iceland seems pretty good at infrastructure.
- gardarh 3y agoCloser to 9 miles (15km). That's plenty (even though it doesn't sound like much), considering what kind of eruption this would be and how the fault lines lie.
- dagurp 3y agoExperts aren't worried about the airport. The main concern (besides the town) is the Svartsengi geothermal plant. If that is destroyed you will have 30.000 people without heating.