Category: Kverkfjöll

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Magnitude 3,1 earthquake in Kverkfjöll volcano

Today (19-Desember-2013) at 09:30 UTC a magnitude 3,1 earthquake took place in Kverkfjöll volcano. The depth of this earthquake was 5,0 km. No aftershocks have been recorded following this earthquake.

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The magnitude 3,1 earthquake in Kverkfjöll volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

This is the first activity in Kverkfjöll volcano for some time now. But overall activity has been slowly increasing in Kverkfjöll volcano for the past few years. So far however there is nothing to suggest that volcano eruption is going to take place in near future.

Update 1: Three aftershocks took place in Kverkfjöllum volcano. The largest one had the magnitude of 1,7. The other two earthquakes had the magnitude of 1,3 and 1,5. With the depth of 6,5 km to 3,4 km.

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The aftershocks in Kverkfjöll volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

It is possible that more aftershocks are going to take place in Kverkfjöll volcano in next few hours to days.

Blog post updated at 16:37 UTC.

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Rate of eruptions in Iceland

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Update on donations: Since my other options have not worked out. I am going to keep Paypal as an way to get donations. As explained before I can not have the regular donation button due to requirement that Paypal has. There is nothing I can do about it since I do not want to risk loosing my Paypal account since I am going to be using it.

There is a common believe that eruptions in Iceland happens in Iceland every 3 to 5 years. According to this believe the next eruption in Iceland should take place around the year 2014 to 2016. The reality of this is far more complex than common believe is in this matters. It is true that eruptions are common in Iceland, but it is not the same to say that eruption happens at regular intervals. For instance the longest break in 20th century since proper documentation of eruptions started was 7 years (Krafla 1984 and then Hekla in 1991). Then there are shorter time periods between eruptions as happened in the year 2011 when no more than three eruptions took place in that year. Two minor ones and one large one. The minor eruptions took place in Grímsfjall volcano (largest eruption in 140 years) and smaller eruptions in Katla volcano (lasted for ~10 hours) and in Hamarinn volcano (~16 hours). Then we had a minor explosion (no eruption) in Kverkfjöll volcano during the summer of 2013 [coverage link on it here and here].

It is not uncommon in Iceland to have several eruption from several volcanoes at the same time or over few month period during the year. It has happened in the history of Iceland and can happen again. It is also not uncommon not to have any eruption in Iceland for a long time and quiet scene last for several years. Currently it is quiet in Iceland but the history has shown that it is not always so. For more details on eruptions in Iceland I reccomend this blog post (jonfr.com) and this overview from Icelandic Meteorological Office.

Blog post updated at 22:10 UTC.
Blog post updated on 10-November-2013 at 23:40 UTC.

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Earthquake activity in several volcanoes

Today (04-September-2013) had some minor earthquake activity in several volcanoes in Vatnajökull glacier. All of this earthquakes were small and less than magnitude 3.0 in size.

Kverkfjöll volcano

The deepest earthquake activity was in Kverkfjöll, with earthquakes at 31 km depth and 24 km depth. This deep earthquake activity is possible connected to magma movements since tectonic earthquakes are unlikely to take place this deep in the crust.

Grímsfjall volcano

One earthquake was recorded in Grímsfjall volcano, it was minor and shallow. This might even just be a glacier quake, rather than normal earthquake.

Öræfajökull volcano

Öræfajökull volcano did see two earthquake today, at the depth of 4 to 5 km. Both were small and tectonic in nature from the looks of it. Earthquakes are not common in Öræfajökull volcano so I am not sure why this increase has now taken place. It is worth noticing that sil network is now more sensitive in this area than before since new stations have been added in this area. This means that smaller earthquakes are now being detected than before.

Esjufjöll volcano

Esjufjöll volcano had two earthquake, the third earthquake might be a ice-quake. I am not sure if it was an real earthquake or not. Esjufjöll volcano normally do not have any earthquake activity, but few years ago an earthquake activity started with earthquakes that had magnitude of 2.5 to 3.0 so there is something going on in this volcano. What that might be I am not sure of yet.

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Earthquake activity in Kverkfjöll, Öræfajökull, Esjufjöll, Grímsfjall volcanoes. All small earthquakes. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

I do not expect anything major to take place in Vatnajökull volcano. Since the current quiet period in Iceland just seems to be ongoing as is.

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Steam explosion in Kverkfjöll volcano on 16-August-2013

During the night of 16-August-2013 several steam explosions took place in Kverkfjöll volcano. This steam explosions were a result of glacier flood that took place few hours earlier, since under the glacier lake in question are hydrothermal areas (hot spring). This hot springs are so hot they do not emit hot water, they emit steam and that means they are warmer than 150 Centigrade. When under pressure this water has higher boiling point. When a glacier flood happens there is a change in pressure, the boiling point of the hot water moves down, this super heats the water and a pressure explosion takes place.

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Effects of steam explosion in Kverkfjöll volcano on 16-August-2013. Copyright of this image belongs to Almannavarnir (Civil protection in Iceland). Picture is from Facebook.

I do not know if there has been any change in hydrothermal activity in Kverkfjöll volcano over the past few years. This volcano is remote and it is not easy to go there, even during the summer time. It has been advised for tourist to be careful around Kverkfjöll volcano due to this changes that are taking place there now. Hot springs and other hydrothermal features are always dangerous to get close to.

More information on Hydrothermal explosions and superheated water

Hydrothermal explosion (Wikipedia)
Superheating (Wikipedia)

Blog post updated at 15:04 UTC on 17-August-2013.
Blog post updated at 15:08 UTC on 17-August-2013.

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Minor glacier flood from Kverkfjöll volcano [Updated]

In a announcement from Icelandic Meteorological Office, an minor glacier flood has now taking place from Kverkfjöll volcano, it appears to have started yesterday (15-August-2013). This is one of the minor glacier lakes in Kverkfjöll volcano. This glacier flood in minor and the water levels are not expected to reach more than normal summer level in the glacier river the flood is going into. The glacier river is called Volga and is a glacier river from Kverkfjöll volcano glacier area.

Currently Icelandic Meteorological Office is taking a trip over Kverkfjöll volcano to see the local changes and what is exactly is going on. Current status of the glacier flood is not well known, but latest report suggested that some subsiding was taking place, if that is because the glacier flood is over or something else is taking place I am not sure about at present time.

Update 1: Icelandic Civil Protection has confirmed that steam explosion took place in Kverkfjöll volcano following the glacier flood (due to sudden pressure release) that took place during the night and in the morning. News about that can be found here in Icelandic.

Web cameras of Kverkfjöll volcano

It is possible to view web cameras of Kverkfjöll volcano here. Weather information can be found here.

Icelandic news about this glacier flood

Óvenjulegur vöxtur í Volgu (mbl.is)
Hægt hefur á vexti hlaupsins (mbl.is)

Blog post updated at 20:47 UTC on 16-August-2013.
Blog post updated at 21:29 UTC on 16-August-2013.

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Deep earthquakes in Askja and Kverkfjöll volcanoes

This is a update for both Askja and Kverkfjöll volcanoes. Since they both had deep earthquakes today. None of this earthquakes where larger then magnitude 1.0. There depth was around 22 to 24 km inside the volcanoes them self.

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Earthquakes in Kverkfjöll and Askja volcanoes. There depth was around 22 to 25 km. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

GVP Kverkfjöll volcano profile. GVP Askja volcano profile.

It is impossible to know for sure what this means in terms of future activity. But this are both active volcanoes and should be treated as such.

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Earthquake swarm update for TFZ and Kverkfjöll volcano at 12:55 UTC

Earthquake swarm in TFZ continues. But earthquake activity continues to drop at fast rate. The largest earthquake so far from midnight has the magnitude of 4.0 (reviewed magnitude). Several smaller earthquakes have taken place during the night in TFZ. But no larger earthquakes have so far taken since midnight. Current earthquake activity has moved little bit east since it started on 21.10.2012.


Current earthquake activity in TFZ for the past few months. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

Kverkfjöll volcano

Earthquake activity has continues since it started again in Kverkfjöll volcano. The strongest earthquake so far had the magnitude 3.3. This earthquake activity in Kverkfjöll volcano has it source in magma movements inside Kverkfjöll volcano. This is most likely not going to start an eruption. But it is worth keeping an eye on.


Earthquake activity in Kverkfjöll volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

Earthquake activity has been slow in Kverkfjöll volcano. This is normal. As this is not tectonic movements, as in TFZ. But magma often moves slower and makes fewer earthquakes then just pure tectonic movements.

Blog post updated at 14:06 UTC on 23.10.2012
Blog post updated at 14:14 UTC on 23.10.2012

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New earthquake swarm in Kverkfjöll volcano

It seems that earthquake activity has started again in Kverkfjöll volcano. So far this is just small earthquakes. But earthquake activity started in Kverkfjöll volcano on 20.10.2012. That was also just small earthquakes. This is most likely minor dike intrusion taking place in Kverkfjöll volcano.


Earthquake in Kverkfjöll volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

It is impossible to know what this activity means. But I do think it is going to remain as is for now. At least it is unlikely for the time being that something bigger is going to happen in Kverkfjöll volcano. But it is worth keeping an eye on this activity. As this might be a clue that Kverkfjöll volcano are waking up from there dormancy. But it might just be minor earthquake activity that happens occasionally in volcanoes, without any other activity taking place in them following such activity.

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Earthquake activity update on 20.10.2012 at 14:51 UTC

Today (20.10.2012) has been busy in terms of earthquake activity in Iceland. So I am expecting to write a second update later today on this activity.

Hekla volcano

At 05:28 UTC there was an earthquake in Hekla volcano. This earthquake had the magnitude of ML1.1 with the depth of 0.6 km. No other earthquakes have followed this single earthquake. What this means is impossible to know at this time. But so far everything remains quiet in Hekla volcano.


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

Kverkfjöll volcano

Earthquake activity continues in Kverkfjöll volcano. This earthquake activity is the result of dike intrusion into Kverkfjöll volcano. So far this earthquake activity is taking place in short burst of earthquake swarm.


Earthquake activity in Kverkfjöll volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

Tjörnes Fracture Zone

At 02:07 UTC earthquake activity did start in TFZ. Just off the coast of Iceland. This earthquake activity is taking place in area that last had earthquake swarm in September. I did cover that earthquake activity in details on this blog. So far the largest earthquakes in this area of TFZ have had the magnitude of ML2.9. This is purely tectonic earthquake activity.

Earthquake activity in TFZ. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

It is difficult to know what happens next in TFZ earthquake activity. But it likely going to continue for the next few hours to days like earlier. It is best to keep an eye on this earthquake activity. This earthquake activity also sometimes stops for few hours before it continues again. Most of this earthquake activity can be seen on my geophone network web page.

If anything major happens in this earthquake activity. I am going to post new blog post with updated information on that activity.

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Earthquake swarm in Kverkfjöll volcano

At 20:03 UTC an earthquake swarm started in Kverkfjöll volcano. The strongest earthquake so far has the magnitude of ML2.6, the depth is 1.1 km according to automatic estimate. Both size and depth of this earthquake are expected to change once it has been reviewed by Icelandic Meteorological Office. So far no harmonic tremor has been detected following this earthquake swarm. The most likely explanation for this earthquake swarm is that dike intrusion of magma has started in Kverkfjöll volcano. This has been happening on regular basis now for several years.


The swarm in Kverkfjöll volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

The earthquake swarm is currently ongoing. It is hard to know what happens in Kverkfjöll volcano following this earthquake swarm. But Kverkfjöll volcano are among Iceland most active volcanoes. With last eruption being in the year 1968 (small I think). This is clearly magma on the move inside Kverkfjöll volcano. But I do not know if this is going to result in a eruption or not. At the moment. It is my estimate that eruption is unlikely to happen. But that might change without warning at any time. But changes in Kverkfjöll volcano might be rapid and without warning. I am going to continue to monitor this activity and post new blog post if there are any major changes in activity in Kverkfjöll volcano.