A new eruption began on the Reykjanes peninsula March 16 at 20:23. A three km long fissure began erupting between Hagafell and Stóra Skógfell. The eruption was preceded by a brief period of seismic activity in the area.
Two lava flows originated from the fissure, one running westward to the north of the Blue Lagoon and Svartsengi Power Plant, and the other running southward toward Suðurstrandsvegur and the sea to the east of Grindavík. The lava flow overnight was around 1 km/hr. By the time of the Grapevine's visit on the afternoon of March 17, the lava had slowed to roughly 20 m/hr (apologies for saying 200 m/hr in the video).
Volcanic activity in the area continues to be fed by a magma reservoir beneath Svartsengi. Prior to this eruption, the reservoir was partially depleted by an event on March 2 that resulted in a dike intrusion, but no eruption.
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