Category: Volcano

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Fresh earthquake activity in Öræfajökull volcano

Today (6-January-2019). Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 2,4. Other earthquakes have been smaller in magnitude.


Earthquake activity in Öræfajökull volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake swarm seems to be ongoing. There are not many earthquakes happening as is normal for Öræfajökull volcano. This activity is in the normal range of what has been happening in Öræfajökull since 2017.

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Magnitude 4,8 earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano

Last night (28-December-2018) there was a strong earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Largest earthquake was at 01:16 UTC and had a magnitude of 4,8. Third largest earthquake happened at 01:20 UTC and had a magnitude of 3,5 second largest earthquake happened at 01:38 UTC and had a magnitude of 3,7. Last earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 2,8 and happened at 01:46 UTC. This earthquake swarm has now ended.


Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano (green stars). Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity happens since Bárðarbunga volcano is inflating and has been doing so since April or May 2015. The rate of earthquakes that are larger than 4,5 seems to be increasing (it takes a few more months to know for sure). This is the second or the third earthquake that is larger than 4,5 in Bárðarbunga volcano in 2018. It would not surprise me if an earthquake with magnitude of 5,5 or larger start to happen in few months to years time. There are no signs that this earthquake activity is going to result in a eruption from Bárðarbunga volcano.

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Update for donations

If you donate directly with a bank. Please update your information. From now on all the donations that I get with a bank transfer go to my Icelandic bank. This is not going to change when I move from Iceland. New bank information can be found here on the donation website.

Article updated on 29-December-2018. Updated information about direct bank donations.

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Earthquake swarm in Bárðarbunga volcano

This morning (17-December-2018) an earthquake swarm started in Bárðarbunga volcano. Largest earthquake in this swarm had magnitude of 3,6. Other earthquakes have been smaller in magnitude.


Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity is a sign that Bárðarbunga volcano has not slowed down on inflating. I don’t know how much the inflation is since I have not seen GPS data for Bárðarbunga volcano in a while.

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Earthquake swarm in Öræfajökull volcano

Today (8-December-2018) there has been a fresh earthquake activity in Öræfajökull volcano. This earthquake swarm was in the northern part of the caldera, or just outside it.


Earthquake activity in Öræfajökull volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 2,6. Other earthquakes had a magnitude of 0,2 to 0,8. This is normal for Öræfajökull volcano in its current phase.

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Earthquake activity in Þórðarhyrna volcano (Thordarhyrna)

During the night of 3-December-2018 earthquake activity started in Þórðarhyrna volcano (no GVP profile, under Grímsvötn volcano profile). Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 2,1 and second largest earthquake had a magnitude of 2,0.


Þórðarhyrna volcano is located south-west of Grímsvötn volcano. Yellow dots on this image. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Last eruption in Þórðarhyrna volcano was in the year 1902 December to 1904 12-January and was a VEI=4 eruption. An eruption happened in Grímsvötn volcano at the same time.

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Two earthquake swarms in Öræfajökull volcano

Today (1-December-2018) two earthquake swarm took place in Öræfajökull volcano.


Earthquake activity in Öræfajökull volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Largest earthquakes in this two earthquake swarms had magnitude of 1,1. All other earthquakes are smaller in magnitude. What is unusual now is that there are two earthquake swarms happening in Öræfajökull volcano. In last few months only one area has been having earthquakes at time. It is worth keeping a eye out for this change if it holds.

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Earthquake activity in Hekla volcano (there is *no* eruption risk above normal levels!)

Over the last few days there has been swarm of small earthquakes in Hekla volcano. This earthquake activity is situated in the south part of the Hekla volcano system. It is just outside the main volcano. What is causing this earthquake activity is unclear.


Earthquake activity in Hekla volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

There is no eruption risk from this earthquake activity. There is nothing suggesting that for now at least this is going to result in a eruption. A lot stronger earthquake activity is needed before that can be declared!

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Earthquake in Hamarinn volcano

Today (23-November-2018) at 21:35 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of 3,5 took place in Hamarinn volcano (No GVP, is under Bárðarbunga volcano, also known as Loki-Fögrufjöll). Last unconfirmed eruption was in July 2011 and lasted ~12 hours. It resulted in a glacier flood and did not break the glacier. That eruption was only visible on harmonic tremor measurements.


Hamarinn volcano activity (green star to the left). Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

It is possible that more activity is on the way, before the eruption in 2011 there was a increase in earthquakes in Hamarinn volcano. The same pattern seems to be happening now. The July 2011 eruption started without any earthquake activity, suggesting that magma is shallow in the crust already and doesn’t need any major change in pressure to start an eruption.

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Earthquake activity in Grímsvötn (Grímsfjall) volcano

During the night of 23-November-2018 there was an magnitude 3,1 earthquake in Grímsvötn volcano (Grímsfjall). Only one aftershock appeared and it had a magnitude of 0,9.


Earthquake activity in Grímsvötn volcano (green star). Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

No change happened on tremor plots following this earthquake activity. Last eruption in Grímsvötn took place in 2011.

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Strong sulphur smell from Sólheimajökull glacier (Katla volcano)

Today (21-November-2018) Icelandic Met Office issued a warning about strong sulphur smell from Sólheimajökull glacier and Jökulsá á Sólheimasandi (connected glacier river) that come from Katla volcano. People are advised to stay away from this area because if the sulphur smell. There hasn’t been any connected earthquake activity with this increase in sulphur smell.


Katla volcano is quiet. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

There is no earthquake activity and no change has been observed on harmonic tremor plots around Katla volcano at this moment. This is unlikely to change, since earthquake activity has been minimal in 2018.