No Cover Image

Journal article 31 views 1 download

The Eldfell eruption, Iceland, 1973: using “Small Stories” to investigate the human evacuation from Heimaey

Rhian Hedd Meara Orcid Logo, A. Árnason, Erin Roberts Orcid Logo, H. Hallbergsdóttir, I. Óskarsson, S. B. Hafsteinsson

Journal of Applied Volcanology, Volume: 15, Issue: 1, Start page: 1

Swansea University Authors: Rhian Hedd Meara Orcid Logo, Erin Roberts Orcid Logo

  • 13617_2026_Article_159.pdf

    PDF | Version of Record

    © The Author(s) 2026. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

    Download (4.93MB)

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.1186/s13617-026-00159-6

Abstract

Research into Eldfell 1973 typically favour scientific studies, with human aspects of the eruption overlooked. The first night, and the subsequent evacuation to the mainland are particularly neglected, their details often incorporated into the larger overall story of the eruption. This research uses...

Full description

Published in: Journal of Applied Volcanology
ISSN: 2191-5040
Published: Springer Nature 2026
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71352
first_indexed 2026-01-30T15:01:34Z
last_indexed 2026-01-31T05:34:56Z
id cronfa71352
recordtype SURis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2026-01-30T15:02:38.0066564</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>71352</id><entry>2026-01-30</entry><title>The Eldfell eruption, Iceland, 1973: using &#x201C;Small Stories&#x201D; to investigate the human evacuation from Heimaey</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>ba3e9c1b30682ffff10e54bc8acc2947</sid><ORCID>0000-0002-2583-3880</ORCID><firstname>Rhian Hedd</firstname><surname>Meara</surname><name>Rhian Hedd Meara</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author><author><sid>391f65540d6e8fe14c0180d015e5a841</sid><ORCID>0000-0003-4818-2926</ORCID><firstname>Erin</firstname><surname>Roberts</surname><name>Erin Roberts</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2026-01-30</date><deptcode>BGPS</deptcode><abstract>Research into Eldfell 1973 typically favour scientific studies, with human aspects of the eruption overlooked. The first night, and the subsequent evacuation to the mainland are particularly neglected, their details often incorporated into the larger overall story of the eruption. This research uses a &#x201C;Small Stories&#x201D; narrative approach to reconstruct the events of the first night of the Eldfell eruption. Archived documents, written personal accounts and interviews highlight the communication and planning involved in the evacuation, the lived experiences of individuals during the event. Understanding the community response to the eruption supports present and future generations of islanders, scientists, and emergency responders to understand and prepare the community for future eruptions on the island and further afield. We answer the call to better utilise historical documents in volcanological studies but also pose our own call to action that hazard scientists establish and maintain long-term meaningful relationships with at risk communities, even during times of quiescence.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Journal of Applied Volcanology</journal><volume>15</volume><journalNumber>1</journalNumber><paginationStart>1</paginationStart><paginationEnd/><publisher>Springer Nature</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic>2191-5040</issnElectronic><keywords>Eldfell; Heimaey; Iceland; Eruption; Community; Evacuation</keywords><publishedDay>31</publishedDay><publishedMonth>12</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2026</publishedYear><publishedDate>2026-12-31</publishedDate><doi>10.1186/s13617-026-00159-6</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Biosciences Geography and Physics School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>BGPS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Other</apcterm><funders>This project was funded through an Innovation Grant from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, and Covid-19 recovery funding from Swansea University.</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2026-01-30T15:02:38.0066564</lastEdited><Created>2026-01-30T14:52:32.8227274</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Geography</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Rhian Hedd</firstname><surname>Meara</surname><orcid>0000-0002-2583-3880</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>A.</firstname><surname>&#xC1;rnason</surname><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Erin</firstname><surname>Roberts</surname><orcid>0000-0003-4818-2926</orcid><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>H.</firstname><surname>Hallbergsd&#xF3;ttir</surname><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>I.</firstname><surname>&#xD3;skarsson</surname><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>S. B.</firstname><surname>Hafsteinsson</surname><order>6</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>71352__36154__bfb18fc5df6f4cb08b715c0335290e50.pdf</filename><originalFilename>13617_2026_Article_159.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2026-01-30T14:52:32.8224112</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>5166306</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>&#xA9; The Author(s) 2026. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2026-01-30T15:02:38.0066564 v2 71352 2026-01-30 The Eldfell eruption, Iceland, 1973: using “Small Stories” to investigate the human evacuation from Heimaey ba3e9c1b30682ffff10e54bc8acc2947 0000-0002-2583-3880 Rhian Hedd Meara Rhian Hedd Meara true false 391f65540d6e8fe14c0180d015e5a841 0000-0003-4818-2926 Erin Roberts Erin Roberts true false 2026-01-30 BGPS Research into Eldfell 1973 typically favour scientific studies, with human aspects of the eruption overlooked. The first night, and the subsequent evacuation to the mainland are particularly neglected, their details often incorporated into the larger overall story of the eruption. This research uses a “Small Stories” narrative approach to reconstruct the events of the first night of the Eldfell eruption. Archived documents, written personal accounts and interviews highlight the communication and planning involved in the evacuation, the lived experiences of individuals during the event. Understanding the community response to the eruption supports present and future generations of islanders, scientists, and emergency responders to understand and prepare the community for future eruptions on the island and further afield. We answer the call to better utilise historical documents in volcanological studies but also pose our own call to action that hazard scientists establish and maintain long-term meaningful relationships with at risk communities, even during times of quiescence. Journal Article Journal of Applied Volcanology 15 1 1 Springer Nature 2191-5040 Eldfell; Heimaey; Iceland; Eruption; Community; Evacuation 31 12 2026 2026-12-31 10.1186/s13617-026-00159-6 COLLEGE NANME Biosciences Geography and Physics School COLLEGE CODE BGPS Swansea University Other This project was funded through an Innovation Grant from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, and Covid-19 recovery funding from Swansea University. 2026-01-30T15:02:38.0066564 2026-01-30T14:52:32.8227274 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Geography Rhian Hedd Meara 0000-0002-2583-3880 1 A. Árnason 2 Erin Roberts 0000-0003-4818-2926 3 H. Hallbergsdóttir 4 I. Óskarsson 5 S. B. Hafsteinsson 6 71352__36154__bfb18fc5df6f4cb08b715c0335290e50.pdf 13617_2026_Article_159.pdf 2026-01-30T14:52:32.8224112 Output 5166306 application/pdf Version of Record true © The Author(s) 2026. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title The Eldfell eruption, Iceland, 1973: using “Small Stories” to investigate the human evacuation from Heimaey
spellingShingle The Eldfell eruption, Iceland, 1973: using “Small Stories” to investigate the human evacuation from Heimaey
Rhian Hedd Meara
Erin Roberts
title_short The Eldfell eruption, Iceland, 1973: using “Small Stories” to investigate the human evacuation from Heimaey
title_full The Eldfell eruption, Iceland, 1973: using “Small Stories” to investigate the human evacuation from Heimaey
title_fullStr The Eldfell eruption, Iceland, 1973: using “Small Stories” to investigate the human evacuation from Heimaey
title_full_unstemmed The Eldfell eruption, Iceland, 1973: using “Small Stories” to investigate the human evacuation from Heimaey
title_sort The Eldfell eruption, Iceland, 1973: using “Small Stories” to investigate the human evacuation from Heimaey
author_id_str_mv ba3e9c1b30682ffff10e54bc8acc2947
391f65540d6e8fe14c0180d015e5a841
author_id_fullname_str_mv ba3e9c1b30682ffff10e54bc8acc2947_***_Rhian Hedd Meara
391f65540d6e8fe14c0180d015e5a841_***_Erin Roberts
author Rhian Hedd Meara
Erin Roberts
author2 Rhian Hedd Meara
A. Árnason
Erin Roberts
H. Hallbergsdóttir
I. Óskarsson
S. B. Hafsteinsson
format Journal article
container_title Journal of Applied Volcanology
container_volume 15
container_issue 1
container_start_page 1
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 2191-5040
doi_str_mv 10.1186/s13617-026-00159-6
publisher Springer Nature
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Geography{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Geography
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Research into Eldfell 1973 typically favour scientific studies, with human aspects of the eruption overlooked. The first night, and the subsequent evacuation to the mainland are particularly neglected, their details often incorporated into the larger overall story of the eruption. This research uses a “Small Stories” narrative approach to reconstruct the events of the first night of the Eldfell eruption. Archived documents, written personal accounts and interviews highlight the communication and planning involved in the evacuation, the lived experiences of individuals during the event. Understanding the community response to the eruption supports present and future generations of islanders, scientists, and emergency responders to understand and prepare the community for future eruptions on the island and further afield. We answer the call to better utilise historical documents in volcanological studies but also pose our own call to action that hazard scientists establish and maintain long-term meaningful relationships with at risk communities, even during times of quiescence.
published_date 2026-12-31T05:35:07Z
_version_ 1856987104571031552
score 11.096068

Similar Items