Unexpected glacier flood from south Langjökull glacier

On Monday 17-August-2020 a glacier flood took place from south Langjökull glacier. This glacier flood seems to have been unexpected and was it seems rather large. It killed fish in the rivers it flooded. This might be connected to a volcano called Presthnjúkar but that remains unclear at the writing of this article. There has been no earthquake or other activity in this area in recent days above background level.

Update 1

This glacier flood took part in the western south part of Langjökull glacier. It is not known the origin of this glacier flood due to cloud cover of the glacier yesterday (19-August-2020).

Update 2

Rúv News published an news today (20-August-2020) with videos of the area where the flood did come from. This was a glacier lake that emptied it self by breaking trough the end of Langjökull glacier resulting in this glacier flood.

News in Icelandic with a video

„Það hefur enginn séð neitt í líkingu við þetta“ (Rúv.is)

Article in Icelandic with pictures

Stór spýja hljóp fram Hvítá og rennsli árinnar nær þrefaldaðist (skessuhorn.is)

Update at 02:50 UTC on 20-August-2020.
Updated at 20:57 UTC on 20-August-2020

Earthquake activity in Presthnjúkar volcano (south Langjökull glacier)

Yesterday (16-March-2019) an earthquake swarm took place in Presthnjúkar volcano (south-Langjökull) or a volcano connected to it (there is a chance this volcano does not have a Global Volcanism Program profile). This earthquake swarm has been slow moving and only around 21 earthquakes have taken place in this earthquake swarm.


The earthquake swarm in Langjökull glacier. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 3,0 and other earthquakes that took place were smaller in magnitude. It is unclear why this earthquake activity is taking place, there is a chance this is just a tectonic movement. Last eruption in this volcano took place more than 5000 years ago. It appears that this earthquake swarm is now over. There is always a possibility that new earthquake swarm is going to start at the same or close to this earthquake swarm location.

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Minor earthquake swarm south of Langjökull glacier

On Friday 20-Januar-2017 and on 21-January-2017 small earthquake swarm took place south of Langjökull glacier (in the area of Presthjúkar). Largest earthquake in this swarm had the magnitude of 2,8.


The earthquake activity south of Langjökull glacier. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

It appears that this earthquake swarm is over, there has been a while since last earthquake happened in this area.

Update on Prestahnúkur earthquake swarm

The earthquake swarm in Prestahnúkur volcano is ongoing with breaks. The fault that is moving is around 5 to 15 km long at the moment (based on the map). The largest earthquake so far has had the magnitude 3,5 and was felt in nearby towns and farms, the second largest earthquake had the magnitude 3,0. Other earthquakes have been smaller so far.

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The earthquake activity today (14-December-2015). Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

I expect this earthquake activity to continue in the next few days to weeks.

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The earthquake activity in this area since 1991 (grey circles). New activity are the red circles. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

The image above is from Week 50 earthquake information website. It can be found here.

Other matters

I’ve been a bit down in the past few days, since I’m living in Iceland and I don’t like it. I don’t belong in Iceland, not sure why that is, it just is. I don’t like the culture (Icelanders are copying U.S culture to some degree, not everything, but many aspects of it), I don’t like the snow and the cold weather. I also don’t like the isolations that follows living in Iceland.

Moving to Denmark

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At the moment I’ve collected money for almost everything. The transfer cost and the first month in rent for the apartment. What is missing is the money for the insurance for the apartment, but I can get a good rent loan for that in Denmark. The insurance amount I have to pay is 9000 DKK (1,206.13€). All that I’m currently waiting for is the Danish Tax (Skat), I’ve been having problem with them for the past few months and that issue has not been resolved yet and that issue is keeping me in Iceland at the moment. Regardless of that, I’ve started preparing my move back to Denmark so that I can move quickly once my last problem has been resolved.

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Thanks all for understanding.

Earthquake swarm south-west of Langjökull volcano (Prestahnúkur)

Yesterday (10-December-2015) a earthquake swarm started in south-west Langjökull (Prestahnúkur volcano [Wikipedia page here]). Currently the earthquake swarm is ongoing. This is a slow earthquake swarm so far, not creating many earthquake over period of one hour. Largest earthquake so far had the magnitude of 3,2. Other earthquakes have been smaller, but many earthquakes are over 2,5 in magnitude. The largest earthquake was felt in nearby town of Hvanneyri and possibly other farms close to the location where the earthquake swarm is taking place.

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The earthquake swarm in south Langjökull volcano (Prestahnúkur). The earthquake swarm is located in one spot. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

This earthquake activity is appearing on my geophones when it comes to earthquakes over magnitude 1,9. Every 10 to 20 years this area has earthquake swarms that creates earthquakes with magnitude 4,0 and above. Last such earthquake swarm was something over 10 years ago if my memory is correct. At the moment there is nothing suggesting that eruption might happen at this volcano any time soon. Last eruption took place 3500BCE (GVP information).

Earthquake swarm north of Geysir continues

Earthquake swarm north of Geysir volcano (this is a minor volcano) continues, with breaks. Largest earthquake in last few days had the magnitude of 3,2 and was felt on nearby farms.

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Earthquake activity north of Geysir volcano in the last 48 hours. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

New earthquake swarms more west than current one have also been appearing, so far the earthquake activity has not lasted more than few hours before stopping again. Earthquake activity is common in this area, larger earthquake swarms do happen in this area every few years.

Minor earthquake swarm north of Geysir

For the past few days there has been a minor earthquake swarm north of Geysir (a minor volcano in this area). The earthquake swarm has not been inside the volcano, it has been just outside it. The earthquakes have all been tectonic in nature so far.

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Minor earthquake swarm north of Geysir. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

All of the earthquakes that have taken place are minor in magnitude. With the largest only having magnitude 2,5. Others earthquakes being smaller in magnitude. So far only 25 earthquakes have taken place. The earthquake swarm seems to be ongoing, it however has slowed down in last few hours and it might end soon.

Magnitude 3,2 earthquake in south Langjökull volcano

Today (10-May-2014) at 10:42 UTC an magnitude 3,2 earthquake took place in south part of Langjökull volcano. Few aftershocks have taken place following this earthquake, but there are no signs of an earthquake swarm is going to take place. This earthquake does not appear to have been felt in nearby areas.

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The earthquake in south Langjökull volcano. The green star marks the location of the magnitude 3,2 earthquake. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

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The magnitude 3,2 earthquake as it did appear on my Böðvarshólar geophone station. This image is released under Creative Commons Licence. Please see CC Licence page for more details.

Earthquakes do happen in this area once in a while. Earthquake swarms are not common in this area. Other then this earthquake, everything appears to be quiet in Langjökull glacier. It is possible to see the earthquake on my webicorders here.

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Updated at 16:24 UTC.

Minor earthquake swarm in Geysir volcano and Presthjúkar volcano

Yesterday (05-February-2014) an minor earthquake swarm took place in Geysir volcano (no GVP information) and in Presthnjúkar volcano. None of the earthquakes where above the magnitude of 2,6. The largest earthquakes did appear on my geophone network and were (are for the next few hours when this is written) visible on my webicorders website.

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Earthquake activity in Presthnjúkar volcano and Geysir volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

Other than this minor earthquake swarm it remains quiet in Iceland. I am not sure why that is at current time. This is the longest quiet period that I remember for the past 5 years at least.

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Melting of glaciers in Iceland might mean more volcano activity

In the evening news on Rúv tonight (23-July-2013) a interesting report about possible future volcano activity was being reported. A unpublished paper (according to Rúv News) reports that with more glacier melt in Iceland, more eruptions should be expected to take place. This is mostly true about areas like Vatnajökull glacier, as it holds several volcanoes that are under heavy pressure from the glacier ice. This applies mostly to volcanoes like Grímsfjall volcano, Bárðarbunga volcano and Kverkfjöll volcano, but those three volcano are the largest ones in Vatnajökull glacier.

This might also apply to areas like Mýrdalsjökull glacier. If this study is true, there might be more eruptions in Iceland in next few decades as the glacier melts away. This like so many other things, is however something that is just wait and see seranio.

At the moment, everything is quiet in Iceland when it comes to activity in volcanoes and on fault zones in Iceland.

Rúv News about this

Auknar líkur á eldvirkni með bráðnun jökla (Rúv.is, Icelandic, video)