Geothermal Borehole in Iceland

Geologists say they are close to creating the hottest borehole in the world.

They are drilling into the heart of a volcano in the south-west of Iceland.

They have told the BBC that they should reach 5km down, where temperatures are expected to exceed 500C , in the next couple of weeks.

The researchers want to bring steam from the deep well back up to the surface to provide an important source of energy.

The project is located on the Reykjanes peninsula, quite near  the Blue Lagoon, where a volcano last erupted 700 years ago.

A huge rig stands out against the black lava fields; inside a drill has been operating for 24 hours a day since August.

It has now descended nearly 4,500m, and the team expects it to hit its target depth of 5km by the end of the year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38296251

What's it like in Iceland today?

Have a look at the webcams,

http://www.livefromiceland.is/

weather forecast,

http://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/areas/

or see where the earthquakes have been happening lately

http://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/earthquakes

Glacier flood may reach national ring road

Jokulhlaups are Icelandic glacier burst floods. One is currently threatening the main Icelandic A road that circles the country.

The flow of the river (pictured above) increased from its usual 120 cumecs to over 2000 cumecs overnight!

A subglacial eruption melts the base of the ice cap, the melting causes the surface of the ice cap to subside, meltwater water eventually emerges as a huge flood.

For the video click here

Follow the links to the 'sinking icecap' and 'Skafta flood this one could be very big' from the link below.

HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS AND HOW TO COPE

http://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/nature_and_travel/2015/10/01/glacier_flood_may_reach_national_ring_road/

NASA Earth observatory

NASA earth observatory has excellent high res photos of lots of geological features. Well worth a look. The recent post is of the new Holuhraun lava in Iceland.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=85031

Thanks to Olly Press for the link.

ICELAND: ASHCLOUD APOCALYPSE

FRIDAY 26TH APRIL 8PM ON CHANNEL 5 

This insightful documentary looks at one of the most volcanic regions in the world and presents a gripping analysis of Iceland’s past, present and possible future volcanic activity.

Weaving together rich visuals from this incredible island with the latest scientific research, the programme reveals how the country’s volcanoes have already exerted a dramatic effect on the population of Europe and beyond. The documentary combines background information, CGI and interviews with scientific experts to take a fresh look at major events in the island’s volcanic history, such as the poisonous sulphur dioxide haze exhaled by Laki in 1783.

Fieldwork and scientific research reveal how it is possible to reconstruct past Icelandic eruptions. There is also a look at how we might predict the style and magnitude of future volcanic events and the effect that they could have on modern life.