Category: Earthquakes

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Earthquake swarm in Katla volcano caldera

This morning there was an earthquake swarm in Katla volcano. This is the first earthquake swarm of the year 2012. This earthquake swarm is most likely created by an dike intrusion. Based on how dense the earthquake swarm appears to be. But that is often an sign of an dike intrusion in an volcano. How this earthquake swarm is going to evolve over the next few hours impossible to know for sure. That depends on what the magma is going to do that is creating this earthquake swarm.


The earthquake swarm in Katla volcano. It is dense as can be on this picture from Iceland Meteorological Office. Copyright of this picture belongs to Iceland Meteorological Office.

The earthquakes can be seen on my geophone web page here (English). The geophone at Skeiðflöt is going to go up this week. So all activity in Katla volcano is going to appear more clearly following that. Sadly. No high resolution of the earthquakes that take place is not going to be available until I move back to Denmark. As my main earthquake computer is offline and is going to be so until that time.

I am going to post updates to this if anything more happens. But it might take a while as I am travelling today to Reykjavík area and tomorrow I am going to Skeiðflöt tomorrow.

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An new Mw5.0 earthquake in north Italy

Today at 14:53 UTC there was an Mw5.0 earthquake in north Italy according to EMSC. This earthquake had the depth of 60 km according to EMSC. This earthquake was felt in the area. But I have not seen any reports of damage from this earthquake. According to GVP this area of Italy is not volcanic in nature. Next active volcano is considerable distance to the south of this earthquake. This earthquake follows an swarm of earthquakes in this area. It is hard know for sure if this an pattern of something larger, or if this is just an minor earthquakes swarm that is over or is just about to be over.


Location of the earthquake according to EMSC. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC.


Local view of the earthquake according to EMSC. This earthquake was below an mountain range that is forming in this area. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC.

So far the largest aftershock in this area following this earthquake was an ML3.2 in size. That earthquake took place at 15:32 UTC. This earthquake was also felt in the nearby towns. It is my view that more earthquakes should be expected in the next few hours to days. But it is impossible to know how large and how many earthquakes there are going to be in this area.

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A Mw5.3 earthquake in Crete, Greece

At 01:33 UTC there was an Mw5.3 earthquake in Crete, Greece according to EMSC. The depth of this earthquake was 13 km according to EMSC. Size, depth and location might change when this earthquake is reviewed. This earthquake appears to be an aftershock of an Mw5.3 earthquake that took place last night yesterday. Following this earthquake there have been more aftershocks in the same area. The largest earthquake being ML3.6 in size according to EMSC. An unrelated earthquake with the size of ML3.9 took place in Greece few moments after the Mw5.3 earthquake.


The regional location of the earthquake according to EMSC. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC.


Local view of the earthquake according to EMSC. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC.

More earthquake activity should be expected in this area in my view. But how and where is close to impossible to know for sure. More aftershock activity should also be expected in next few hours to days.

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Earthquake with the size of Mw5.3 in Greece, Dodecanese Islands this morning

Early this morning at 04:24 UTC there was an earthquake with the size of Mw5.3 this morning in Greece, Dodecanese Islands according to EMSC. The depth is estimated around 10 km. According to EMSC this earthquake was felt on nearby Islands. But it was followed with more the dozen or so aftershocks. The largest ones had the size of ML4.1, the largest aftershocks have also been felt on nearby Islands. But the epicenter of this earthquakes is out in the ocean. A good distance from next populated area. Aftershock activity is currently ongoing in this area.


The location of the Mw5.1 earthquake in Greece, Dodecanese Islands this morning. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC.


Local view of the earthquake this morning in Greece, Dodecanese Islands. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC.

Earthquakes of this size are common in this area of Greece. But in this area of Greece has an active subduction zone. As can be clearly seen on this picture here.


Picture of the subduction zones in Greece. Copyright holder unknown. But the picture is from the blog, In the Company of Plants and Rocks

For this reason, this area is highly active in both earthquakes and volcanoes.

Special on glasses and GSM repeater

Because I have to buy new glasses. I have to delay buying GSM repeater for my mom and dad. As my income does not allow for me buying both. But the cost of each is around 2000 DKK (offers and discounts depending on the glasses). A money that I cannot afford to spend all at once now. So I am just going to collect for the GSM repeater later in the year after I have moved to Denmark. As glasses have nr 1 priority for me. Since I am close to being blind without glasses. That is one reason why I hate having this small income as I do today. It is my hope that I can change it in next few months (12 to 24 months). At least I am going to try to do so.

Those how have already supported me for the GSM repeater. Thanks for the support. I however have to use it buy new glasses when I go to Denmark next month to apply for an apartment.

Blog post updated at 21:23 on 26.01.2012

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Minor earthquake swarm in El Hierro volcano

After the eruption ended in El Hierro volcano it seems that minor magma dike intrusions have been taking place. This magma intrusions so far appears to be deep and not big. Given the depth and the size of the earthquakes that are currently taking place. This also suggests that new magma continues to flow into El Hierro volcano. But that flow might be at slower rate then it was early in the year 2011 before the eruption started. The largest earthquake in this swarm had the size ML2.8 with the depth of 12 km. Based on automatic data.


The current earthquake activity in El Hierro volcano. The earthquake swarm in question was small in size. Copyright of this picture belongs to IGN.


The earthquake activity appears clearly on this picture. The highest peak is the ML2.8 earthquake. Copyright of this picture belongs to IGN.

It is hard to know for sure what this means for future eruption events. Before the earthquake swarm today there was an small eruption somewhere in El Hierro volcano. It can be seen by the harmonic tremor levels. But this event was small, a lot smaller then earlier events. All that can be done is to wait and see what happens next in El Hierro volcano.

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Information about the Mw4.9 earthquake in north Italy

Today (25.01.2012) at 08:06 UTC (09:06 local time) an earthquake with the size of Mw4.9 did happen in north Italy according to EMSC. This earthquake was not far from the ML4.3 earthquake that did happen in nearby area yesterday (24.01.2012). According to reports this earthquake was clearly felt and some light damage has happened following this earthquake. I am not sure on aftershock activity in this area. But so far the largest aftershock has been with the size ML3.5, it was also felt in nearby towns.


The regional location of the Mw4.9 earthquake according to EMSC. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC.


Local view of the area where the Mw4.9 earthquake took place. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC.

More aftershocks are possible in this area. The trigger for this earthquake is most likely the earthquake that did happen yesterday and had the size of ML4.3. How that works is unclear. But the area in question was already at breaking point, so it needed little to break and make the earthquake happen. EMSC has put up an special web site with more information about this earthquake. That web site can be viewed here.

If any more large earthquakes happen. I am going to write about it soon as I can.

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A ML4.2 earthquake in north Italy

According to EMSC there has been a ML4.2 earthquake in north Italy at 23:54 UTC on 24.01.2012. This earthquake appears to be located close to populated areas. I do not yet know if there has been any damage due to this earthquake. But if houses in the area are poorly built, there might be some light damage. It is hard to know for sure if this is an pre-earthquake or just one earthquake. There have already been some minor aftershocks already. But so far none of them have been larger then ML2.1.


The regional area where the earthquake took place. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC.


Local area where the earthquake took place. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC.

I am going to update this blog post if anything more happens in Italy where this earthquake took place.

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Earthquake with the magnitude of ML4.7 in Hawaii Island

Last night at 02:36 UTC (23.01.2012) there was an earthquake with the magnitude of ML4.7 in Hawaii Island. This earthquake was felt according to what I have been reading about on the forum. This earthquake activity is most likely due to changes in tectonic stresses in the area. Rather then anything volcanic.


The location of the earthquake. Copyright of this picture belongs to EMSC-CSEM.


Location of the earthquake from USGS. Copyright of this picture belongs to USGS.

The largest aftershock following this earthquake did get the size ML3.1 Earthquake activity is currently ongoing. But I do not know to what extent exactly. Sharp aftershocks should be expected in this area in the next few hours to days.

M 5.0 – ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII – 2012-01-23 02:36 UTC (EMSC)
Magnitude 4.7 – ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII (USGS)

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Earthquake(s) in Hekla volcano

At 17:53 UTC there where two (or one) earthquake(s) in Hekla volcano. They where in the main volcano it self. The size of this earthquakes where ML06 and ML0.7, the depth was 2.5 km and 0.7 km. I am unsure what this means. But there is an slight possibly that an eruption might be under way. But at the moment no eruption has started so far. So only thing that can be done is to wait and see what happens next.


The earthquake in Hekla volcano at 17:53 UTC. Copyright of this picture belongs to Iceland Meteorological Office.

All that can be done for the moment is wait and see what happens. As so far this is the only earthquake in Hekla volcano. But that can change without warning at any time. I am going to monitor this as best I can this evening. But I am going to be away part of the evening and not close to any internet connection.

Update 1: An second earthquake did happen in Hekla volcano system during this morning. Its size was ML0.8 with the depth of 2.2 km. Other earthquakes that have happened also have been corrected. But the size of those earthquakes where ML1.0 at 0.1 km depth and ML0.7 at 8.3 km depth. Two of this earthquakes (ML0.8 and ML0.7) where not in Hekla volcano it self. But inside Hekla volcano system at good distance from the mountain it self.

Hekla volcano system earthquake during the past 48 hours. Small earthquakes have been taking place in the south end of Hekla volcano system (north of Hvolsvöllur village) for several months now. What this means I have no idea. Copyright of this picture belongs to Iceland Meteorological Office.

Blog post updated at 18:41 UTC on 22.01.2012.

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Small earthquake swarm in Hengill volcano

Yesterday (17.01.2012) an small earthquake swarm started in Hengill volcano. This earthquake is in the area where Orkuveita Reykjavíkur (OR) has been pumping down cold water from the hydro-thermal power plant that they have in the area. So far the largest earthquake in this minor earthquake swarm is just ML2.0 in size according to automatic size estimation. The depth of this earthquake swarm is around 5 km.


The earthquake activity in Hengill volcano today and yesterday (17.01.2012 and 18.01.2012). Copyright of this picture belongs to Iceland Meteorological Office.

The earthquake activity in this area repeats it self regularly due to water being pumped down into the ground. This has increased the risk of large (Mb5.0 or larger) earthquake in this area. But it is impossible to be sure if such events take place. As this is most likely just going to speed up an process that is already in place by nature forces in Hengill volcano (earthquakes, nothing else). So for the moment, the only thing that can be done is to wait and see what happens next.