Category: Presthnjúkar

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Unexpected glacier flood from south Langjökull glacier

On Monday 17-August-2020 a glacier flood took place from south Langjökull glacier. This glacier flood seems to have been unexpected and was it seems rather large. It killed fish in the rivers it flooded. This might be connected to a volcano called Presthnjúkar but that remains unclear at the writing of this article. There has been no earthquake or other activity in this area in recent days above background level.

Update 1

This glacier flood took part in the western south part of Langjökull glacier. It is not known the origin of this glacier flood due to cloud cover of the glacier yesterday (19-August-2020).

Update 2

Rúv News published an news today (20-August-2020) with videos of the area where the flood did come from. This was a glacier lake that emptied it self by breaking trough the end of Langjökull glacier resulting in this glacier flood.

News in Icelandic with a video

„Það hefur enginn séð neitt í líkingu við þetta“ (Rúv.is)

Article in Icelandic with pictures

Stór spýja hljóp fram Hvítá og rennsli árinnar nær þrefaldaðist (skessuhorn.is)

Update at 02:50 UTC on 20-August-2020.
Updated at 20:57 UTC on 20-August-2020

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Earthquake activity in Presthnjúkar volcano (south Langjökull glacier)

Yesterday (16-March-2019) an earthquake swarm took place in Presthnjúkar volcano (south-Langjökull) or a volcano connected to it (there is a chance this volcano does not have a Global Volcanism Program profile). This earthquake swarm has been slow moving and only around 21 earthquakes have taken place in this earthquake swarm.


The earthquake swarm in Langjökull glacier. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 3,0 and other earthquakes that took place were smaller in magnitude. It is unclear why this earthquake activity is taking place, there is a chance this is just a tectonic movement. Last eruption in this volcano took place more than 5000 years ago. It appears that this earthquake swarm is now over. There is always a possibility that new earthquake swarm is going to start at the same or close to this earthquake swarm location.

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Earthquake swarm not far from Skjaldbreið (Presthnjúkur area)

Yesterday (22.02.2017) there was an earthquake swarm in the Presthnjúkur area, in a area not far from Skjaldbreið volcano.


Earthquake activity yesterday close to Skjaldbreið. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This was a minor earthquake swarm, with the largest earthquake only having a magnitude of 2,2. Depth was from 18,3 km and up to 1,1 km. This earthquake swarm appears to be over.

Article updated at 12:08 UTC on 24.02.2017. Title error fixed.

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Earthquake swarm in Presthnjúkar volcano. Update on Katla volcano

Presthnjúkar volcano: Few days ago an earthquake swarm did start in Presthnjúkar volcano. This earthquake swarm is entirely tectonic in nature. There is nothing that suggests that this earthquake swarm is connected to magma movements inside Presthnjúkar volcano system. So far this earthquake swarm has been slow and small. But the largest earthquakes have gone up to ML3.3 in size according to Icelandic Met Office.


The location of current earthquake swarm in Presthnjúkar volcano. Copyright of this picture belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Katla volcano: Over the last 18 hours it has been quiet in Katla volcano. As no more earthquakes have been detected from it. I would not be surprised if there are more earthquakes swarms in Katla volcano in the next few weeks and months. It is an well known fact that Katla volcano is heading to an eruption. But nobody knows when that is going to happen.


Location of the earthquakes in Katla volcano yesterday. Copyright of this picture belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Besides this two highlights of earthquake activity in Iceland. It has been rather quiet in the past few weeks. With just from ~100 to ~300 earthquakes during the week.

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General update of earthquake activity in Iceland and other things

Here is finally an new blog post from me. This week has been busy. As I did move to Hvammstangi again for this summer. But I did move to Iceland on the 5. June 2011. But just for the next 1 to 3 years, depending on how things goes for me. My work is hard, so I might not often have energy to write new blog post during the week. But I am going to do my best.

Now, the earthquake information on what has been going on in Iceland for the past two weeks or so.

Katla volcano: Even after the harmonic tremor pulse last week. Nothing special has been going on in Katla volcano. But it did come to my attentions that Icelandic Met Office did notice that in Week 23 there have been explosions (mine for road work in the area). So when an “earthquake” appears in that area. It means that an mine explosion have taken place in that area. I do not know when they are going to stop mining operations in this area.

Presthnjúkar: There continues some earthquake activity in the Presthnjúkar area. This earthquake activity appears to be tectonic and nothing else. The latest earthquake swarm taking place there appear to be starting tonight. It is hard to be sure how it is going to develop over the past few hours.

Other: There is currently not a lot other thing going on in Iceland.

I hope to make an better post tomorrow. When I am well rested and focused.

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Earthquake swarm in South Langjökull volcano and Krýsuvík volcano

Today has been spotted with earthquake swarms in Iceland. This earthquake swarms have not been big so far in both terms of earthquakes and size of the earthquakes. With the biggest earthquakes in South Langjökull volcano (Presthnjúkar). The biggest earthquakes in South Langjökull volcano have been around ML2.5 in size. With the average depth of 10 to 5 km. Total number of earthquakes is something around 39 and that is an small earthquake swarm.

The area in question is known for earthquake activity. Few years ago there was an earthquake swarm in this area with several ML4.0+ earthquakes. This area did also see earthquake swarm earlier this year. So far nothing suggests that an eruption is close in this area.


Map from Icelandic Met Office showing the area with the earthquake swarm. Click on the picture to get full size. Copyright of this picture belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Krýsuvík volcano did also have an minor earthquake swarm today. The largest earthquake in Krýsuvík volcano was ML2.1 with the depth of 3.9 km. So far this earthquake swarm has been an minor one. With just over 32 earthquakes happening today.

Other earthquake activity in Iceland is currently not an lot. A ML3.1 earthquake took place few days ago in TFZ in an area that commonly has earthquake swarms. That area does not have any volcanoes, so earthquakes there are only connected to faults in the fault lines in that area.

Blog post updated at 23:29 UTC on 7. June 2011.
Blog post updated at 23:35 UTC on 7. June 2011.

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Earthquake swarm in Presthnjúkar volcano (Langjökull glacier)

A earthquake swarm of 70 something earthquakes have been taking place close to Presthnjúkar volcano in Iceland. This activity is tectonic in nature and is because of the rift zone. This volcano is located close to south end of Langjökull glacier, but Langjökull glacier covers two volcanoes (north Hveravellir and south Presthnjúkar). One at the north end and a other at the south end. This volcano last erupted in the year 3500 BC (?) according to GVP.


Picture is from Icelandic Met Office web page. Copyright belongs to them.

The earthquake swarm in south Langjökull volcano.

Earthquake swarms are common in this area and happen regularly. But last large earthquake swarm in this area was in June 2009. The largest earthquake that did happen today was felt in nearby area according to Icelandic news.

Icelandic news about this earthquake swarm. Use Google Translate at own risk.

Skjálftahrina á milli Langjökuls og Þórisjökuls (Vísir.is)
Jarðskjálftahrina í Langjökli (Rúv.is)