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Detection of Changes in Surface Thermal Anomalies Using Remote Sensing Following Periods of Volcanic Unrest at Reykjanes Peninsula Region SW- Iceland from 2016 to 2023
Patrick MUANZA, Ingibjörg JONSDOTTIR, Gunnlaugur EINARSSSON, Thorvaldur THORDARSON, Sigurdur KRISTINSSON
[University of Iceland, Iceland]
This study investigates geothermal surface activity across four volcanic fields on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula using satellite-derived Land Surface Temperature (LST) data from Landsat 8 and ASTER, spanning the years 2016 to 2023. Thermal imagery was consistently acquired during comparable seasonal periods to reduce atmospheric and seasonal variability in surface temperature measurements. Temporal and spatial patterns of thermal anomalies were analyzed to assess changes in geothermal activity over time. To enhance the reliability of the satellite-based observations, ground-based temperature measurements were collected at selected locations for validation. The results reveal distinct thermal behaviors among the study sites: Reykjanes exhibits persistent LST anomalies, likely influenced by shallow magmatic processes and geothermal power operations; Krýsuvík shows episodic surface heating aligned with periods of regional volcanic unrest; while Miðdalur and Grændalur demonstrate a gradual decline in thermal activity and a contraction of thermal anomaly footprints. These contrasting trends reflect varying stages of geothermal evolution and volcanic influence within each field. This research underscores the value of long-term thermal remote sensing in monitoring geothermal systems and volcanic activity, while also acknowledging limitations related to sensor resolution and atmospheric interference. The integrated approach presented offers a scalable methodology for detecting geothermal changes and contributes to the ongoing assessment of volcanic systems in tectonically active regions.
Topic: Geology