Today around 16:00 UTC there was an new harmonic tremor in Katla volcano. This harmonic tremor has two sources. Hyrdothermal activity under the glacier, or magma moving deep inside Katla volcano (without creating many earthquakes in Katla volcano). It is unclear what is the case at the moment.
This spikes are so far not related to glacier floods from Katla volcano. But that sometimes also happen without an eruption being involved.
The harmonic spike can be seen here. Close the end of the chart. It is different then the background noise as it is more powerful then the background noise. Copyright of this picture belongs to Icelandic Met Office.
It is impossible to know what happens next. But it is also important to be aware of the fact that earthquake season is starting in Katla volcano. But that is normally from end of June to beginning of October (or when it starts to snow again in Iceland). So more earthquakes are going to be seen this summer also because of more SIL seismometers around Katla volcano.
So there is no reason to panic about Katla volcano at current time. But it is worth to keep watch on it anyway.
Notice: Updates might be an little few due the fact that I am now working all day during the week and I am tired in the end of the day with no energy to write new blog posts. But I am going to do my best anyway.
There has been a swarm of earthquakes in southern Iceland region just south east of Reyjavik.
http://en.vedur.is/#tab=skjalftar
Would I be correct in assuming these are tectonic and not due to volcanic activity? Could I check out the answer for myself by reading the Iceland Met Office tremor graphs or would I need a helicorder like yours Jon? I really need some help in correctly interpreting these recordings
This is probably a very basic question but I would like to learn as much as possible. Thank you for any help.
This is just an minor earthquakes, it does not qualify as an earthquake swarm.
Please note also that there is strong wind noise on SIL sensors. Mostly on the high band, that is 2 to 4Hz. But also on the lower band, that is 1 to 0.5Hz. Eruptions have there own signatures, so does magma movement. It goes above the background noise fast and the signature of that is clear on Icelandic Met Office tremor charts.
Thank you Jon for your reply and for your patience. I shall continue to look, and learn. I now understand the charts a little more.
Have a good rest this weekend and enjoy.
New blog post is up. 🙂
Is some of the increased activity related to the 7.0 and larger earthquakes we have had in the areas of Japan and most recently in the aleutian islands areas? And what are the thoughts on the gravitational stress created by the normal rotation of celetial bodies and their proximities at this time? If there is data on these scenerios, I would love to see it and read it over. Historically we are over due for an event at Katla and if we could perhaps link more information to the past eruptions with celestial influences and a time frame, it may give us a bit more warning and eliminate some loss of life. The last large erruption caused deaths for the decade after in relation to lung problems from the ash and acidity levels, especially in europe. Mathmatically we should be able to get closer to a better warning system. Any help would be appreciated as I am researching that data together to try and find links. Thanks.
The effects of other planets on Earth on earthquakes and volcanoes is none. It has remained that for an long time now (appprox 5 billion years already I would guess).
The reason for that is quite simple. We are just too far away from the other planets to have any effects on planet Earth workings.
What about when you align certain systems together during differing time frames? One magnet is not as strong as several together in the right curcumstances; and we already know that the moon celetially has an impact on the tides. To move that mass of water takes alot of energy; not to mention that even to carry a 5 gallon bucket of water to my live stock takes muscle because of the weight of it. Everything is connected and reacts in some manner. What were the planetary circumstances during the last large Katla erruption? If you know of links to a study that would be wonderful. Thanks so much for your input!
Here is an map of the solar system, as close to scale as I could find it.
http://nineplanets.org/overview.html
Here are the planets to scale.
http://www.essex1.com/people/speer/model.html
Under “right circumstances” means close to each other. Magnets are like planets, far away they do not affect each other. Not even when they are “aligned”.
Okie Dokie. Just looking into theories on differing things. I never like to rule out any possibilities or discount anyones ideas or hypothesis simply because I never assume I could ever be arrogant enough to believe I were smarter than anyone else. I simply wish for links for information in the pursuit of knowledge for the greater good. I realize in the grand scheme of the universe, that we are but a speck, but it interests me nonetheless. I do have a scale map of the solar system and do know how to access them thank you very much. I also know that when Katla does decide to blow that it will affect the world on a global scale as it has in the past. It simply is something that is curious and exciting and interesting to me. Thank you very much for your time, although it seems I have a wider scope of curiosity than you are able to assist me with. God speed.
Last eruption in Katla volcano did not have an effect on global scale. In fact, it only had local effect and nothing more.
How big the next eruption is going to be is an open question. But I doubt that it is going have an effect on the whole world. But it might effect Europe in the same way as Grímsfjall volcano did last time.
The 1755 eruption of Katla which erupted 1.5 cubic km of magma is believed to have caused some global cooling. But like Jon says who knows how big the next eruption will be.