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 Masters lecture in Geology - Þóra Björg Andrésdóttir

When 
Fri, 01/06/2018 - 14:00 to 15:30
Where 

Askja

Stofa 132

Further information 
Free admission

Master's student: Þóra Björg Andrésdóttir
Title: Hazard and risk assessment at Reykjanes, vulnerability of infrastructure
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Faculty:  Faculty of Earth Sciences
Advisor: Ármann Höskuldsson, Research Scientist

Other members of the master's committee: Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir, Associate Professor and Þorvaldur Þórðarson, Professor
Examiner: Sólveig Þorvaldsdóttir

Abstract

Volcanic eruptions can have serious consequences, both locally and globally. In Iceland there is a high eruption frequency, where the volcanism is affected by the North Atlantic plate boundary and the hot spot underneath the island. Some areas experience long periods between volcanic activity and because of that, the knowledge of volcanic threat is not in the living memory of the public. Many volcanos have not erupted after the advances in technology and therefore have not been observed with modern equipment. The Reykjanes peninsula, in SW Iceland, has five volcanic systems with SW-NE orientation, where volcanic activity occurs in episodes, the last ended in the Reykjanes fires 1210-1240. The Reykjanes peninsula is highly populated and many critical infrastructure connecting the urban area that makes hazard assessment very important. Following a well establish methodology of evaluating volcanic hazards in volcanic fields. Including a geological database of eruption events of all the Reykjanes peninsula. Analyzing the spatial probability map and local intensity map, and more detailed analysis on the westernmost part of the peninsula around the Grindavík, Vogar and Keflavík areas. With these steps the questions, where is the likeliest areas of vent opening (hosting a volcanic eruption), what is the most likely event and where is it most likely that critical infrastructure can be affected, will be answered.

Þóra Björg Andrésdóttir

 Masters lecture in Geology - Þóra Björg Andrésdóttir