Iceland is known for its exceptional safety due to low crime rates, a small and closely-knit population fostering community trust, political stability, low corruption levels, preparedness for natural disasters, lack of military conflicts, and a high standard of living. While no place is entirely risk-free, Iceland’s reputation for safety is grounded in its stable and well-organized society.
However, this idea of safety has been demolished by the recent current events. Over the past week, there has been a whopping 1700 earthquakes. Now, the conflict looks worse with a possible volcanic eruption. Magma and magmatic gas has been detected, and despite the seismic activity decreasing, magma is still moving 3-4 cm each day. The safe and great Iceland is now being rapidly evacuated by its population, and people may be unable to return for many months.
A possible facilitator to these events is climate change. Climate change can influence earthquakes through a process called Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA). As global temperatures rise, glaciers in Iceland are melting, causing a redistribution of the Earth’s mass. This, in turn, induces stress in the Earth’s crust. The reduced ice load allows the crust to gradually uplift, potentially impacting seismic activity. Changes in precipitation patterns and increased volcanic activity, possibly linked to climate change, further contribute to the complex interplay between environmental factors and seismic events in Iceland. While the specific interactions are still being studied, it is recognized that climate change can indirectly influence the geological dynamics in this region.
This emphasizes the toll that climate change has over the world, especially in areas like Iceland. Although actions have been made in the past few years to help mitigate this issue, actions are needed now more than ever. Some possible actions/policies that could be made in countries around the world are a continued focus on renewable energy, reforestation, adaptation measures, public awareness campaigns, international collaboration, green innovation, and legislative measures and policies promoting sustainability. These actions shouldn’t just be emphasized in Iceland, but across the world. Each little step contributes to the whole goal. And in the meantime, neighboring countries and NATO (Iceland is a member) need to aid the Iceland population to ensure their safety.
Ayan Kumar's Blog 