Skaftáreldar

The Skaftáreldar, also known as the Laki eruption or the Grímsvötn eruptions of 1783-1784, was a devastating volcanic event in Iceland. The eruption began on June 8, 1783, at the Laki crater in the Grímsvötn volcanic system, which is located beneath the Vatnajökull glacier. This was followed by a series of fissure eruptions along a 25-kilometer-long fissure.

The Skaftáreldar was one of the largest effusive eruptions in recorded history, releasing an enormous volume of lava and toxic gases. The eruption continued for eight months, producing an estimated 14 cubic kilometers of basaltic lava and covering vast areas of southern Iceland with ash and pumice. The fissure system actually consisted of around 130 individual craters.

The immediate impact on Iceland was catastrophic. The volcanic gases, primarily sulfur dioxide and hydrofluoric acid, poisoned grazing land and killed a significant portion of the livestock. This led to a severe famine known as the Móðuharðindin, or "Mist Hardships," which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 people, about 20% of Iceland's population at the time. Crops failed, and fishing was severely impacted.

Beyond Iceland, the Skaftáreldar had far-reaching global consequences. The eruption released immense quantities of volcanic aerosols into the atmosphere, which spread across Europe and North America. This caused a cooling effect and contributed to crop failures and harsh weather conditions in many regions. In Europe, the "Laki haze" led to widespread crop damage, unusually cold winters, and an increase in mortality rates in some areas. The eruption is considered a significant event in climate history and has been studied extensively by volcanologists and climatologists.