Category: Volcano

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Update on Fagradalsfjall activity at 11:40 on 5. July 2023

This is a short update since this situation is changing quickly.

  • Largest earthquake recorded so far had a magnitude of Mw4,8 and was felt over a wide area.
  • Uncertainty level has been declared for Fagradalsfjall mountain area because of this earthquake activity and the risk of an eruption.
  • Current depth of the magma is now 3 to 6 km and is getting shallower by each hour.
  • Over 2000 earthquakes have been recorded at the writing of this article.

 

A lot of earthquakes in Fagradalsfjall mountain. Time on image is 11:30 on 5th july 2023.
Earthquake swarm activity in Fagradalsfjall mountain. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

The only web camera that I know of at the moment and is showing Fagradalsfjall mountain is this one here. When the eruption starts, it should be visible in some part on this web camera. I hope that other closer web cameras are going online soon. Those where run by Rúv and mbl.is in last eruption.

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Update on the activity in Fagradalsfjall mountain

This is a short update on the activity in Fagradalsfjall mountain.

Currently there have been around 200 earthquakes that have happened at the writing of this article. The first magnitude Mw3,1 took place at 22:45 UTC. This magnitude is automatic and is going to change when the earthquake is reviewed.

Green star and a lot of red dots in Fagradalsfjall mountain.
The heavy earthquake activity in Fagradalsfjall mountain. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

There’s a lot going on at the writing of this article and the situation can change without warning. I’ll post updates as best I can.

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Two earthquakes in Bárðarbunga volcano

Because of other activity in Iceland. This article is going to be short.

Two earthquakes took place in Bárðarbunga volcano at 19:59 UTC and 20:02 on 4. July 2023. The magnitudes was Mw3,3 and Mw3,9.

Two green stars on top of each other in Bárðarbunga volcano in Vatnajökull glacier.
Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This is normal activity and happens because of inflation in Bárðarbunga volcano.

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Earthquake swarm in Fagradalsfjall mountain

Today (4. July 2023) there has been a earthquake swarm in Fagradalsfjall mountain. Largest earthquake had a magnitude of Mw1,6 and at the writing of this article there have not been any earthquakes with magnitude above Mw2,0. This might change without warning.

Red dots in Fagradalsfjall and yellow and blue dots in other places on Reykjanes peninsula.
Earthquake activity on Reykanes peninsula. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Smaller earthquakes swarms sometimes seems to happen before an eruption in Fagradalsfjall mountain. The current earthquake swarm has all signs of dyke intrusion. If that is going to result in eruption now is impossible to know.

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Earthquake in Katla volcano

During the evening of 2. July 2023 at 22:57 UTC an earthquake with the magnitude of Mw3,1 took place in Katla volcano caldera. This was one of the few earthquakes that took place that evening and there has not been any more earthquake activity since then.

Green star in Katla volcano caldera. There are also few blue dots showing older earthquakes, along with few yellow and orange dots.
Earthquake activity in Katla volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Since the last earthquake swarm in Katla volcano. Things have been rather quiet in Katla volcano.

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Update on Katla volcano activity

This is an update on Katla volcano activity. The largest earthquakes in the earthquake swarm during the night had a magnitude of Mw4,4. There where total of eight earthquake with magnitude above Mw3,0 in this earthquake swarm and in total of 58 earthquakes in total according to Icelandic Met Office website. This earthquake activity is ongoing even if currently there are no earthquakes taking place (at the writing of this article).

This earthquake activity was clearly felt in Þórsmörk area and was resulting in people loosing sleep.

Green stars and yellow dots in Katla volcano caldera on the Icelandic Met Office map. Time on map is 30. June, 23, time is 11:15 Icelandic Time.
Earthquake swarm activity in Katla volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

According to news reports on mbl.is there has now been increase in conductivity in Múlakvísl glacier river. This seems to be directly connected to the earthquake swarm activity that took place during the night. There is also more water in the Múlakvísl glacier river, if that is connected is unclear, because of rain in Iceland in recent days, there is general more water in rivers. Harmonic tremor has not started to change. That can happen without warning at any time.

Icelandic News

Rafleiðni fer stígandi í Múlakvísl eftir skjálfta (mbl.is)
Önnur skjálftahrina í Mýrdalsjökli (ruv.is)

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Strong earthquake swarm in Katla volcano

During the night of 30. June 2023 an earthquake swarm started in Katla volcano. At the writing of this article the largest verified earthquake had a magnitude of Mw3,3.

Green star and red dots in Katla volcano caldera.
Ongoing earthquake activity in Katla volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake swarm is ongoing at the writing of this article. Currently an eruption has not started, if that is going to change is something that just has to show it self in next few hours if this earthquake activity continues to increase. All that can be done for now is to monitor this situation.

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Magma detected deep under Reykjanes peninsula

According to a news on Rúv News there has been detection of magma at considerable depth on Reykjanes peninsula. This magma is actively trying to reach the surface, but has not been successful for now. This has resulted in a lot of dyke intrusions on the Reykjanes peninsula in recent months. Earthquake activity seems to follow each inflation period on the Reykjanes peninsula according to the news.

The magma in the deep crust and in the mantle is going to increase in volume until it can break up the surface. How long that is going to take is something I don’t know. Next eruption cycle is going to start with a large earthquake, just like the last one. Based on all current data that I have.

Rúv news in Icelandic

Jarðskjálftavirkni aukist síðustu daga og vikur (Rúv.is)

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Earthquake in Þórðarhyrna volcano

Today (29. June 2023) at 07:48 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,1 took place in Þórðarhyrna volcano. This was just one earthquake and a minor Mw1,3 earthquake happened at 08:17 UTC and since then its been quiet. Þórðarhyrna volcano is inside Grímsfjall volcano fissure swarm but is an independent volcano in this setting. Sometimes Þórðarhyrna and Grímsfjall erupt at the same time.

Green star in south part of Þórðarhyrna volcano. Not many other earthquakes on the map. Time on map is 29. June, 23, time 13:20 Icelandic time.
Green star in Þórðarhyrna volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Last eruption in Þórðarhyrna volcano took place around late 1890 or early 1900. I am not sure what year exactly, because eruption often attributed to Þórðarhyrna volcano took place in Grímsfjall volcano and sometimes the reverse happened. Last eruption took place around 120 to 140-ish years ago.

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Earthquake swarm in Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcano (Kleifarvatn lake)

Today (28. June 2023) an earthquake swarm took place in Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcano in Kleifarvatn lake. Largest earthquake had a magnitude of Mw3,2 at 09:21 UTC and was felt in Reykjavík area and other nearby towns.

Green star and red dots in Kleifarvatn lake in Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcano. There are red dots and orange dots in nearby Fagradalsfjall volcano.
Earthquake activity in Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Its unclear what is going on at this location. Most likely explanation for this activity is stress changes because of inflation in nearby Fagradalsfjall volcano. At the moment, I don’t think there is going to be an eruption in Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcano. This earthquake swarm looks like its ongoing at the writing of this article.