Environmental monitoring for Landsvirkjun

Towards the end of August, three ÍSOR staff members travelled to the north of the country to carry out environmental monitoring for Landsvirkjun in their utilisation areas at Krafla, Námafjall and Þeistareykir. Over the past decade, ÍSOR has been tasked with monitoring changes in these geothermal areas. Changes in geothermal surface activity in these areas are monitored, samples are taken, and changes in the chemical composition of fumaroles as well as the flow of carbon dioxide through the surface are measured. It is important to monitor these factors, both to keep track of the area affected by the power plants and no less to monitor the conditions in the geothermal reservoir. Changes in the pressure conditions in the geothermal reservoir are reflected in changes at the surface, and such changes can be of great importance for the utilisation of the geothermal resource.