Category: Magma

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The earthquake swarm in Reykjanes volcano

I am sorry about being late with this. I got a cold again with its usual problems.

On Sunday 8th February 2026 an earthquake started in Reykjanes volcano, in the area of Eldey island. Around 1000 earthquakes where recorded. Largest earthquakes had a magnitude around Mw3,4. Other earthquakes where smaller in magnitude.

Earthquake activity on Reykjanes ridge on 9th February 2026. Three green stars show the largest earthquakes. The earthquakes are spread on the map, because how the software Icelandic Met Office uses locates the earthquakes.
The earthquake activity on Reykjanes ridge, close to Eldey island. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake swarm is possibly connected to the inflation that is happening in Svartsengi volcano, as that inflation changes stress in faults along the Reykjanes peninsula and Reykjanes ridge. How well that stress results in earthquakes in unknown. It is unclear if magma was also active in this earthquake swarm. It should not be ruled out. No eruption did happen in this earthquake swarm. More earthquake swarms in this area of Reykjanes ridge and Reykjanes peninsula should not be ruled out.

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A magnitude Mw5,3 earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano

Today (31-January 2026) at 11:54 UTC an earthquake with the magnitude of Mw5,3 took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. This earthquake was not felt in populated areas. This earthquake is part of the inflation process in Bárðarbunga volcano. This process has been going on since the eruption in Bárðarbunga volcano ended on 28-February 2015.

Green star and red and orange dots showing smaller earthquake in left side of this image in Bárðarbunga volcano. That is north side of Vatnajökull glacier.
Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This strong earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano is going to continue until maximum inflation is reached or until next eruption start. Whatever comes first. Then this cycle is going to restart in some form once a eruption has happened. If maximum inflation is reached, then this type of earthquake activity is going to stop. Based on current data, it is going to take several decades until that happens.

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Dyke intrusion in Þórðarhyrna volcano

Yesterday (24-January 2026) from 10:27 UTC and until 12:02 UTC an earthquake swarm took place in Þórðarhyrna volcano. This earthquake swarm looks like a dyke intrusion in that volcano. Largest earthquake had a magnitude of Mw2,8 and other earthquakes where smaller in magnitude.

Just south-west of Grímsfjall volcano, in the white snow on the map of Vatnajökull glacier a cluster of earthquake is located in Þórðarhyrna volcano.
Earthquake activity in Þórðarhyrna volcano. Just south-west of Grímsfjall volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity is showing a increase in activity in this volcano over the recent years. There has not been a eruption in Þórðarhyrna volcano since 1830 to 1903 (year is uncertain). This volcano is inside Grímsfjall volcano fissure swarm. There are no clear signs that eruption is going to happen any time soon. This increase in earthquake activity might continue for next 10 to 20 years before an eruption happens in Þórðarhyrna volcano. There are more information about Þórðarhyrna volcano on Icelandic Volcanoes website.

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Earthquake activity in Hamarinn volcano

Today (06-December 2025) at 10:10 and 10:13 UTC two earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,1 and Mw4,0 took place in Hamarinn volcano. This was followed by few smaller earthquakes in the same area.

Two green stars on top of each other in western Vatnajökull glacier. This is in Hamarinn volcano.
Two green stars in Hamarinn volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

No other activity has happened following this earthquake activity. There has not been any change in harmonic tremor levels. I am not expecting more activity at the writing of this article.

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Magnitude Mw5,4 earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano

Today (29-October 2025) at 16:46 UTC an strong earthquake took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. This earthquake had a magnitude of Mw5,4. It was not felt according to news. This earthquake is the result of inflation that is happening in Bárðarbunga volcano and has been since its eruption ended in the year 2015.

Green star in Bárðarbunga volcano, located in northern part of Vatnajökull glacier. A lot of red dots showing smaller earthquake activity.
Green star showing the earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

There was some aftershock activity, but it has been minimal. Currently there are no signs of an eruption is about to start in Bárðarbunga volcano.

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Strong earthquake swarm in Katla volcano

This morning on 20-October 2025 an strong earthquake swarm started in Katla volcano. Strongest earthquake so far had a magnitude of Mw4,5. It was most likely felt in nearby populated areas. Several earthquakes with magnitude above Mw3,0 also took place. This earthquake swarm is ongoing, but it happens in waves and at the writing of this article there is a quiet period happening.

Red dots showing smaller earthquakes in Katla volcano. Green stars showing stronger activity in Katla volcano caldera.
Earthquake activity in Katla volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

At the moment there has not been any signs of magma movement. That might change without warning. There also not been any change in glacier water from Mýrdalsjökull glacier. That only show up after 4 to 8 hours, since it takes time for the glacier water to travel to the glacier rivers from Mýrdalsjökull glacier. If anything more important happens. I’ll post a new update on what is going on.

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Strong earthquake in Hamarinn volcano

Today (18. September 2025) at 00:04 UTC an earthquake with the magnitude of Mw3,6 took place in Hamarinn volcano, that is south of Bárðarbunga volcano.A small aftershock took place soon after the largest earthquake. There are no signs that an eruption is about to happen. Last year this area also had an earthquake, but a bit smaller one.

Green star in Hamarinn volcano, south of Bárðarbunga volcano on Vatnajökull glacier.
Earthquake in Hamarinn volcano. South of Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

It is difficult to know if any more earthquakes are going to happen in this area. At the moment that is unlikely.

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Strong earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano on 27-July 2025

On the 27-July 2025 at 23:39 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw5,2 took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. A second earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,1 took place at 23:41 UTC. That second earthquake is embedded into the first earthquake and that makes it impossible to see it in earthquake data without good analyse. The largest earthquake was felt in Akureyri, far north of Bárðarbunga volcano.

Two green stars in Bárðarbunga volcano. The northern green star is the larger earthquake with magnitude of Mw5.2.
The earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Office.

This is normal earthquake activity as Bárðarbunga volcano continues to inflate. This large earthquake happen every few month in Bárðarbunga volcano.

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Update on the eruption in Sundhnúkagígar in Svartsengi volcano at 17th July 2025 at 00:43 UTC

This is a summary update with best information I have at the moment. Some information might be out of date without me knowing about it.

  • The eruption fissure reached 2,5 km when it was at the longest length. It has started to get smaller as the eruption has dropped in intensity over the last few hours.
  • This is the most northern eruption in Svartsengi volcano so far.
  • The lava flow is towards Fagradalsfjall volcano and into Fagradals valley and is now filling up, if it has not done so already.
  • Harmonic tremor looks stable at the writing of this article. This can change quickly and without warning.
  • Early GPS data suggest that deflation of Svartsengi volcano is around 100mm for the last 12 hours where it is most. Depending on the GPS station location in the volcano system.
  • Earthquake activity has stopped or almost stopped in the area.
  • I don’t expect this eruption to last more than few days. However eruptions in this area sometimes continue in one crater at very low volume for a several weeks. At current time its impossible to know if that happens.
  • Fog is currently blocking all view of the eruption. So its impossible for me to know what is happening visually.
  • Gas pollution has been a problem in this eruption and wind direction. This might not improve until the eruption ends.

If there is anything more to report. I’ll post update here about it. I don’t expect there is going to be any need for any future update at the writing of this article.

Updated at 00:59 UTC on 17th of July with missing information.

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Eruption has started in Sundhnúkagígaröðinni in Svartsengi volcano

Today (16-July 2025) at 03:53:31 UTC an eruption started in Svartsengi volcano in Sundhnúkagígaröðinni crater row. This is the most northern part of the eruption area. Far from anything important. The eruption fissure doesn’t look large based on what can be seen on web cameras.

The eruption as seen on the web camera Þorbjörn. The lava strokes are clearly visible and are orange red in colour.
The eruption in Sundhnúkagígaröðinni in Svartsengi volcano. Screenshot from Rúv web camera on YouTube.

It is impossible to know how long this eruption is going to last. It might be few hours and up to few days. If needed. I’ll post updates about the eruption. Normally in this type of eruption that is not required.