This Footage of Iceland’s Volcano Includes the Sounds of the Eruption
Iceland’s Geldingardalsgos volcano continues to erupt on the island, allowing photographers and videographers to capture some incredible footage. Photographer Jakob Vegerfors has done just that, and also included something often missing from recorded footage: the sound of the volcano.
Vegerfors cut together a video that combines the sound of the volcano with some exceptional footage which he says was particularly challenging to get right, saying that it was “so much more work” to get a proper level of sound quality. The result is far more immersive, taking viewers into the experience in ways that music dubbed over footage could never properly do.
“The volcano is now many times larger than when I first went there and seems to continue with the same strength,” he writes. “It has completely covered the valley floor, and will soon start to flow into the next valley.”
Now that the volcano has grown to such a size, it is notably more dangerous to photograph it or even approach the fissure.
“It’s a different experience to go there now,” Vegerfors continues. “With the volcano being a lot bigger you have to stay farther away, but at the same time it feels more intimidating. The crater is growing and collapsing all the time, and the lava field is massive, with a lot of built-up pressure from within.”
Laughing Squid notes that Vegerfors believes that as the volcano continues to grow, it appears that it may do so for a long time. This is in direct contrast with a statement by Þorvaldur Þórðarson, a professor of volcanology and petrology at the University of Iceland. Just a few days after the volcano initially erupted, he said that by his estimates, the eruption could be over as soon as a day or perhaps continue for as much as a month. But given what was noted as a slowing rate of lava flow, he believed it was likely to be sooner rather than later. Clearly, things have changed.
“They’re saying that lava comes from around a 20 kilometer depth, from the mantle,” Vegerfors continues. “This means that it’s a lot hotter than the ‘usual’ eruptions here, and it also means that is it probable that it will continue to flow for a long time – months or years. If that is correct it is what is called a shield volcano, named after the shape of the crated, which will look like a huge shield lying on the ground.”
If this were to happen, Vegerfors says that the Volcano would grow to quite a size, perhaps several hundred meters high, and cover most of the surrounding peaks seen in hit images.
“Even though the process would take several decades, it’s a staggering thought,” he concludes.
While the video above is less than five minutes long, Vegerfors says he will upload a 20-minute version “soon.” To be alerted when that happens, make sure you subscribe to his YouTube Channel.
