Iceland finally begins Reykjanes eruption

[Warpy]

No large eathquake,no loud roar, just a glow in the sky near Grindavik.

[love_katz]

1. It looks more like the eruptions I Hawaii. Those eruptions are not usually explosive.

I live in the land of strato-volcanoes. Those eruptions can get explosive. The explosions are usually from thick, viscous lava that has a lot of gas trapped inside. The other explosive element can be steam, which builds up tremendous pressure inside of the volcano. What you are showing looks like lava flowing from a large fissure, with a couple of lava fountains visible. There might be danger from volcanic gasses, so people are wise to heed the advice to stay away. There should be lots of very interesting videos from official sources, and great pictures, as well. Stay safe, and please keep us posted on how you are doing, and how the eruption is going.

[Warpy]

3. Icelandic lava tends to be rhyolitic basalt unlike

the super runny olivine basalt that forms the Hawaiian chain. Rhyolitic basalt is higher in silica, which makes it thicker and stickier, one reason this eruption took its own sweet time in happening.

The particular area that opened up hasn't erupted in 6000 years, another characteristic of rhyolitic eruptions, they tend to have long quiet periods between eruptions.

(Yeah, I paid attention in geology classes a thousand years ago)

[love_katz]

4. Hooray for geology classes.

And, rhu rho for ryolite. Hopefully the eruption will continue to be a quiet one, and you will all remain safe.

[2naSalit]

2. A shield volcano...

Oozes from the ground. It's what caused many of the "benches" that you see in southern Idaho and other places in the western states.