--- title: "So Much Lava Is Oozing Out of Iceland That You Can See It From Space" description: "So much lava is spewing forth from an erupting volcano in Iceland, it can be spotted from space, as seen in a recent satellite image." date: "2024-02-12" modified: "2024-02-12" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/lava-oozing-iceland-space" categories: - "Space" tags: - "Iceland" - "lava" - "the digest" - "volcanoes" --- # So Much Lava Is Oozing Out of Iceland That You Can See It From Space ![So much lava is spewing forth from an erupting volcano in Iceland, it can be spotted from space, as seen in a recent satellite image.]() *\Image: ESA\* ## Volcano So much lava is spewing forth from an erupting volcano in Iceland that it can be spotted from space. A breathtaking image taken by the European Space Agency's Copernicus' SENTINEL-2 satellite last week, shows massive rivers of glowing-red lava emanating from deep below the snow-covered surface. It's the aftermath of the third eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano since December — an escalation of epic proportions that sets the tone for uncertain geological times ahead. ![]() *Credit: ESA* ## Magma Vision So much lava has poured forth that the Blue Lagoon spa, one of Iceland's biggest tourist attractions, had to be [evacuated]() last week. Fortunately, the town of Grindavik, which is roughly 2.5 miles southwest of the eruption site, was evacuated back when the town's residents were forced to leave their homes during the [first major eruption]() on December 18. The ongoing eruptions are leaving a visible mark on the surrounding landscape. [Previous satellite imagery]() taken by the SENTINEL-2 before the latest outbreak showed massive regions of solidified lava, dark patches showing up perfectly against the freshly fallen snow. ![]() ## Volcanic Era Iceland is no stronger to volcanic activity. The island nation, which sits on the boundary between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, is [home to more than 100 volcanoes](), 30 of which are currently active. However, the last time the affected Reykjanes peninsula saw lava rise to the surface was roughly 800 years ago. "Over geological time, the tectonic plates are pulling apart at about the speed that your fingernails grow, so a few centimeters a year," University of Oxford Earth scientist Tamsin Mather [told the *BBC*](). "But they don't seem to smoothly pull apart — they go through these pulses of higher activity." Scientists are now expecting the area to be rocked by more "relatively small, relatively short-lived eruptions over the coming years and decades," he added. That's not exactly good news, considering the region is the most densely populated part of the country, and features an international airport, massive geothermal power plants, and important tourist infrastructure. In short, Iceland is entering a new volcanic era — and nobody's entirely sure what that'll entail. **More on Iceland:** *[Watch Workers Desperately Try to Stop Oncoming Lava]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()