Volcano and earthquake activity in Iceland
Yesterday (10. February 2023) at 16:25 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,1 took place around 41 km south of Kolbeinsey island.
This earthquake was far from any populated areas of Iceland and was not felt for this reason.
This earthquake swarm is ongoing at the writing of this article and information can change without warning. The largest earthquake recorded by automatic magnitude of Mw3,7 at the writing of this article. Around 30 to 40 earthquakes have happened so far, but that number might change quickly. This earthquake activity has some signs that it might be happening because of magma intrusion in the area, out in the ocean but signals are not clear.
This earthquake activity is in the volcano Reykjanes, that volcano goes into the ocean and is on dry land. Making possible future eruptions both explosive and flowing magma at the same time. To date, Reykjanes volcano only has had earthquake swarms and no eruption. When that is going to change is impossible to know.
Today (7. February 2023) an small earthquake swarm took place. This earthquake swarm started at 11:21 UTC with a magnitude Mw3,2 earthquake and lasted until 12:05 UTC. Other earthquakes were smaller in magnitude.
This shows that Bárðarbunga volcano continues to inflate at high rate. Based on what happened before the eruption in 2014 to 2015 in Bárðarbunga volcano. When the earthquake stop for long time period it means Bárðarbunga volcano is ready for an eruption. While the earthquake activity happens is it is doing today, it means inflation continues in Bárðarbunga volcano.
Today (06. February 2023) at 10:24 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw7,5 took place. This earthquake took place less than 12 hours after the Mw7,8 earthquake took place 50 km south of this earthquake. USGS is reporting (seen on CNN) that 10000 people might have died in this earthquakes because of were it is located. The real number might be higher. News is also reporting that 582 people have died in Syria because of this earthquakes. There is heavy aftershock activity in this area and the second largest aftershock had a magnitude of Mw6,7 at 01:28 UTC.
Information about the Mw7,5 earthquake can be found here at EMSC and here at USGS. Information about the Mw6,7 earthquake can be found here at EMSC website.
Update (22:38 UTC)
The magnitude Mw7,5 earthquake has been confirmed to be an aftershock by USGS.
This might not be anything at the writing of this article. Since there’s little earthquake activity in Katla volcano at the moment, its well below background noise. Over the last several months I’ve noticed an slight increase in larger earthquakes in Katla volcano, this might not mean anything, but I do not remember having seen this type of pattern in earthquake activity in Katla volcano before. Currently the earthquake activity is almost none and that means that for now there’s no risk of an eruption.
Largest earthquake today (3. February 2023) had a magnitude of Mw2,7. This is what has been happening in recent months. This one or two earthquakes that are slightly larger than what I consider normal. There’s a chance this might be normal and nothing more is going to happen, but for now, it is impossible to know for sure what is happening.
Yesterday (30. January 2023) had two earthquakes with magnitude Mw3,2 far off the coast on the Reykjanes ridge. Only one smaller earthquake was detected. Distance from the SIL network makes detection of smaller earthquakes is impossible or really difficult.
Besides this earthquake activity, it remains quiet in Iceland. Bad weather has also been blocking detection of earthquake activity for the last two weeks.
Few inflation related earthquakes have taken place in Bárðarbunga volcano this evening. This earthquake activity shows that Bárðarbunga volcano continues to inflate at a fast rate since end of the eruption in February 2015.
Continue reading “Earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano”
Early morning of 7. January 2023 an earthquake swarm took place in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano. All of the earthquakes are small in magnitude and largest earthquake had a automatic magnitude of Mw1,0. Depth of this earthquakes is from 7 km and down to 9,5 km depth.
Continue reading “Earthquake swarm in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano”
Today (6. January 2023) an earthquake swarm started in Reykjanes volcano close to Reykjanestá area. Largest earthquake had a magnitude of Mw3,0 at 00:31 UTC. Other earthquake have been smaller in magnitude.
Continue reading “Ongoing earthquake swarm in Reykjanes volcano (close to Reykjanestá)”
Today (27. December 2022) an earthquake swarm took place in Fagradalsfjall volcano. This earthquake swarm was small in magnitude, as most earthquake swarms are in Fagardalsfjall volcano.
Continue reading “Earthquake swarm in Fagradalsfjall volcano”