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Reykjanes   »  Eruptive History

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Reykjanes

Start Date: 1970 (?) 

Eruption is UNCERTAIN

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption  (?)

Start Date: 1966 

Eruption is UNCERTAIN

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption

Start Date: 1926  Jun 5 ± 4 days Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (NE of Eldey)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption

Start Date: 1884  Jul 26 

Eruption is UNCERTAIN

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  2?

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (NW of Eldey)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption  (?)
    New island formation  (?)

Start Date: 1879  May 30 (?) Stop Date: 1879 Jun 15 ± 5 days

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  1

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (Geirfugladrangur)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1830  Mar 13 (?) Stop Date: 1831 Mar (?)

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (Eldeyjarbodi)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Regional fissure eruption
    Submarine eruption
    New island formation  (?)
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1783  May 1 (on or before) Stop Date: 1783 Aug 15 ± 60 days

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3^

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (Nyey)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Regional fissure eruption
    Submarine eruption
    New island formation
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1661  Dec 

Eruption DISCREDITED

Area of Activity: (no 1661 eruption at Grindavík)

Start Date: 1583  Jul 15 ± 45 days Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  2?

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (near Eldeyjar Islands)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption

Start Date: 1422  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  2

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (Geirfuglasker-Eldey area)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption
    New island formation
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1340 (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3^

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1240  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  1

Lava Volume:  6.5  x  108 m3

Tephra Volume:  4  x  105 m3

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur, Arnarsetur, Illahraun

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Regional fissure eruption
    Submarine eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 1238  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption

Start Date: 1231  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Tephra Volume:  2  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (R-10 tephra)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption
    New island formation
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1226  Jul 15 ± 45 days Stop Date: 1227 (?) 

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  4  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (R-9 tephra layer)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1223  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Tephra Volume:  2  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (R-8 tephra layer)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1211  Aug 31 ± 30 days Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4?

Tephra Volume:  2  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (Karlsgigur; R-7 tephra)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption
    New island formation
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1211  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Lava Volume:  1.6  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: Stampar, Karlsgigur

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Regional fissure eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 1210  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3?

Tephra Volume:  1 ?  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: Vatnsfellsgigur

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Regional fissure eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1179 (in or before) Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  2

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur, (R-5 and R-6 tephras)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 920 AD (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (near Eldey; R-4 tephra)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 200 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (uncorrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0

Area of Activity: Lambagjá

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Regional fissure eruption
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 400 BC ± 100 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (uncorrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  2

Lava Volume:  5.2  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: Sundhnukar

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Regional fissure eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 1800 BC ± 300 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  2

Lava Volume:  8  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (R-2, R-3 tephras), Stampar

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Regional fissure eruption
    Submarine eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 3800 BC ± 300 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Area of Activity: Reykjaneshryggur (R-1 tephra layer)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Submarine eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 4000 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0

Lava Volume:  5.7  x  109 m3

Area of Activity: Sandfellshaed

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Lava flow(s)
    Lava lake eruption

Start Date: 5040 BC ± 100 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (uncorrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0

Area of Activity: Hopsnes

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Regional fissure eruption
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 8000 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0

Lava Volume:  5.2  x  109 m3

Area of Activity: Thrainskjöldur

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Lava flow(s)
    Lava lake eruption


Global Volcanism ProgramDepartment of Mineral SciencesNational Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian Institution

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