Yesterday (26. December 2022) an earthquake swarm took place in Reykjanes volcano. Just on the Reykjanestá area. This earthquake swarm was mostly in the ocean and on the Reykjanes ridge but some earthquakes where on the Reykjanes peninsula on land.
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Earthquake swarm in Reykjanes volcano (3-December-2022)
Today (03-December-2022) at 12:49 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,5 at 7,0 km depth. This was the largest earthquake in the swarm. Around of 40 earthquakes took place at the writing of this article. There are no reports about the largest earthquake was felt in nearby populated areas.
This earthquake activity suggest that a new inflation period is about to start in this part of the Reykjanes peninsula and Reykjanes ridge. There has been rather quiet time in Fagradalsfjall volcano and Reykjanes volcano since August when last eruption took place in Fagradalsfjall volcano. Reykjanes volcano has not erupted so far, but has continued activity of magma injection into the crust. When that is going to result in a eruption is impossible to know.
Strong earthquake swarm on Reykjanes ridge close to Geirfugladrangur and Eldeyjarboða
This evening on 16-October-2022 an strong earthquake swarm started close to Geirfugladrangur and Eldeyjarboða on the Reykjanes ridge. At the writing of this article the strongest earthquake had a magnitude of Mw4,4 but that might change without warning.
It is difficult to know how this earthquake swarm is going to evolve but there are clues in this activity that this might be a large earthquake swarm. However, activity in this area is also known to just stop without warning.
Strong earthquake swarm on the edge of Reykjanes ridge
This earthquake swarm is around 1330 km away from Reykjavík and in the North Atlantic ocean. What is going on here is unclear, but this is probably an earthquake swarm before an eruption or during an eruption in that area. The ocean depth at this location is between 3 to 4 km so nothing is going to appear on the surface.
Total of 61 earthquakes have been recorded since 26-September-2022 when this activity started. Largest earthquake so far had a magnitude of Mw5,7 but several earthquakes with magnitude of Mw5,0 appears to have taken place. Because how remote this area is only the largest earthquakes are being recorded. It is possible to monitor the earthquake swarm here on EMSC website.
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Earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes ridge close to Eldeyjarboði blind skerry
During the night of 27-August-2022 an earthquake swarm took place close to Eldeyjarboði blind skerry. Largest earthquake had a magnitude of Mw3,1. Other earthquakes where smaller and at this distance, only earthquakes with magnitude above Mw2,2 were detected. The distance from Reykjanestá is about 80 to 90 km. Last eruption in this area was in the year or around the year 1830. Location of the earthquakes detected is not accurate because of distance from the SIL network.
What is happening at this location is unknown. This can just be normal tectonic activity or this can be earthquake activity related to volcanism at this location. It is impossible to know since the area is under ocean and unless an eruption is seen. This can be assumed to be normal tectonic earthquake activity in this area.
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Strong earthquakes deep on Reykjanes ridge
Today (21-August-2022) at 15:28 UTC and 15:27 UTC two strong earthquakes took place at distance of 531 km from Reykjavík. The smaller earthquake had a magnitude of mb4,7 (EMSC information) and the larger earthquake had a magnitude of Mw5,1 (EMSC information). At 16:32 UTC an mb4,4 earthquake took place (EMSC Information).
This might be a eruption at this location or about to start. It is impossible to know for sure because of distance from the coastline and depth of ocean at this location. If an eruption happens, it is not going to be observed at all. The ocean depth at this location is 2,5 to 8 km (deepest areas).
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Update on the eruption in Fagradalsfjalli mountain in Meradalir valley on 12-August-2022
This is a short update on the eruption in Fagradalsfjall mountain in Merdalir valley. As expected there is not a lot of news in this eruption, since lava type of eruptions are normally not news heavy eruptions.
- The amount of lava that is now erupting according to latest news is about 15m3/sec. This is higher than the eruption in Geldingadalir in 2021.
- The lava seems to have filled up the valley the eruption started in. The floor seems to be about 10 to 30 meters high depending on location.
- The crater has formed to some extend. The lava lake that remains there blocks the formation of a normal crater for now. This might change with time as the eruption continues.
- Lava flow go both in south and north direction. The north lava flow goes into a smaller valley that was there. This is the long way out of the valley for now.
- There is a risk that the lava flow is going to reach road 427 (Suðurstrandavegur) in few weeks time.
- The risk of new eruption sites opening up remains high and that risk increases as the eruption goes on.
- There is a swarm of small earthquakes that has been happening regularly since the start of the eruption in the dyke. It is unclear why that is happening.
- I’ve been seeing what appears to be a lava fountain taking place in the eruption in the last few hours. This has not yet been confirmed, I have however observed this on the web cameras.
I think this is all. I hope the next update is going to be on Friday 19th August 2022 unless something major happens.
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Earthquake swarm close to Geirfugladrangur on Reykjanes Ridge
On Monday (4-July-2022) an earthquake swarm started close to Geirfugladrangur on Reykjanes ridge. Largest earthquake on Monday had a magnitude of Mw3,2 and on Tuesday a magnitude Mw3,1 earthquake took place.
This earthquake activity is what seems to be increase in earthquake activity overall on Reykjanes peninsula and on the Reykjanes ridge. The ocean is deep at this location and an eruption would have to be a big one to break up to the ocean surface because of depth in the area. I don’t know how many earthquakes have happened in this area, because of more activity on Reykjanes peninsula in last few days.
Earthquake recordings
Because of how old my hardware is and difficulty keeping it running. I have for now stopped recording earthquakes. This is going to be the situation until I can get new hardware. When that happens I don’t know. Raspberry Shake has few stations in Iceland. They can be viewed here. This is the hardware I am going to be using once I can afford to buy it. When that happens I don’t know.
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On Thursday 26-may-2022 there was a strong earthquake on Reykjanes ridge
On Thursday 26-May-2022 at 20:11 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,5. I think this earthquake was maybe felt in populated areas closest to the earthquake. This earthquake was out in the ocean, a good distance from land.
This earthquake possibly is part of the earthquake activity that is happening in Reykjanes peninsula and Reykjanes ridge. It is more difficult to know what is going on in the ocean, than on land.
Posts are going to get delayed for the next few days because I am moving to Denmark.
Strong earthquake this morning north-east of Grindavík town
Today (23-May-2022) at 07:14 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,5 took place north-east of Grindavík town. This earthquake was felt in Grindavík and in Reykjavík. The earthquake was located in a area that is either inflating or on the edge of area that is inflating.
According to Icelandic Met Office news, the inflation around Þorbjörn mountain since the start of this earthquake activity is currently at 45mm. I don’t know how much inflation the crust can take in this area before an eruption starts in this area. Any eruption in this area is probably going to start with few craters that shut down with time and then there is just one crater that erupts until the eruption ends.
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