Long-term hazard assessment for lava hazards on the Reykjanes Peninsula published

Today, two reports on the long-term hazard assessment for lava hazards on the Reykjanes Peninsula were published, as part of an extensive project by the Icelandic Meteorological Office to comprehensively assess volcanic hazards across the entire Reykjanes Peninsula.

A total of four reports have now been published within the project, which began in early 2024 and is scheduled for completion in 2027. This year, four reports on fissure hazards will be added, along with two additional reports on lava hazards and one report on earthquake hazards. Reports on tephra fall, gas pollution, and groundwater contamination will follow next year. Compiling an assessment of volcanic hazards in a single project for an area that includes seven volcanic systems, sixteen municipalities, and numerous critical infrastructures is a large-scale undertaking and is, in fact, unique worldwide.

The long-term lava hazard assessment identifies which areas are potential eruption source zones and which areas could be exposed to lava flows based on the eruption history of the region. The main objective of the assessment is to reduce damage with a focus on infrastructure, and the results are an important contribution to urban planning and land-use planning.

The report provides detailed information on areas exposed to lava hazards, and the results will be useful for those involved in spatial planning, operators of critical infrastructure, and response agencies, among others, including through updates to emergency response plans.

The findings in the reports support what was already known and do not fundamentally change the understanding of where lava hazards threaten built areas and infrastructure in the capital region.

The results of the long-term hazard assessment do not define what constitutes “acceptable risk” in terms of settlement or activities in the area; however, they provide a basis for such discussions and decision-making and will be an important tool for municipal authorities in the region when planning future settlement and economic activities.

In parallel with the publication of the reports, the Icelandic Meteorological Office has launched a website and an interactive map viewer where the results and content of the reports can be explored in more detail.

See the new website: www.eldfjallava.is
See the report Lava Hazards on the Reykjanes Peninsula – Long-term Hazard Assessment
See the report Lava Hazards in the Capital Region – Long-term Hazard Assessment
See the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s summary here.