Scientists think eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula could continue for decades or even centuries.
By Rebecca Morelle and Alison FrancisThis week, Iceland woke up to yet another day of fire, as towering fountains of lava lit up the dark morning sky.
As the magma builds up underground, the pressure increases until it breaks through the surface in an eruption .But the last time the Reykjanes peninsula saw any lava flow was hundreds of years ago - that may have started as early as the 8th or 9th Century and continued until 1240.
"So this is proceeding as expected at the moment. And what we're expecting is a series of these relatively small, relatively short-lived eruptions over the coming years and decades."Working out how to predict when the eruptions will happen is a key concern for Iceland right now - especially as the town of Grindavik and a geothermal power plant - a key piece of national infrastructure - are in the danger zone.
The Icelandic authorities are building large barriers around the town and power station - and these are good at holding lava back. "In the last cycle, the first eruptions started in the systems to the east and migrated to the west, with a few fits and starts here and there," explains Dr Dave McGarvie from Lancaster University.
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