@misc{10481/79794,
year = {2023},
month = {1},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/79794},
abstract = {After more than a year of unrest, a small effusive eruption commenced in Fagradalsfjall,
Iceland, on 19 March 2021. The eruption lasted six months. The first six weeks were
characterized by multiple fissure openings, and the remainder was dominated by effusive
activity from a single crater. During the eruption, lava and low-level gases propagated
over the complex terrain: a hyaloclastite massif with mountain peaks up to about 350 m
asl with valleys in between. The area is uninhabited, but easily accessible at about 30 km
distance from Reykjavík. While the eruption was ongoing, more than 356,000 tourists
visited the eruptive site. To maintain low risk access to the area, it was critical to monitor
the eruption (including opening of new fissures) in real-time, forecast the transport
of gas and lava flow emplacement, and assess the evolving hazards. In addition to data
accessibility and interpretation, managing this volcanic crisis was possible thanks to strong
collaboration between the scientific institutions and civil protection agencies. The eruption
presented an opportunity to tune, test and validate a variety of numerical models for hazard
assessment as well as to refine and improve the delivery of information to the general
public, communities living near the eruption site and decision makers. The monitoring
team worked long hours during both the pre- and syn-eruptive phases for identifying low
risk access areas to the eruption site and to provide a regular flow of information. This
paper reviews the eruption and its associated hazards. It also provides an overview of the
monitoring setup, the adopted numerical tools and communication materials disseminated
to the general public regarding current exclusion zones, hazards and possible future
eruptive scenarios.},
organization = {International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)},
publisher = {Springer},
keywords = {Fagradalsfjall eruption},
keywords = {Low risk access},
keywords = {Operational response},
keywords = {Volcanic hazards},
keywords = {Eruption monitoring},
keywords = {Tourism},
title = {The eruption in Fagradalsfjall (2021, Iceland): how the operational monitoring and the volcanic hazard assessment contributed to its safe access},
doi = {10.1007/s11069-022-05798-7},
author = {Barsotti, S. and Titos Luzón, Manuel Marcelino},
}