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Eruption has started in Sundhnúkagígaröðinni in Svartsengi volcano

Yesterday (20-November 2024) at 23:29 or 23:30 UTC an eruption started in Sundhnúkagígaröðinni in Svartsengi volcano. This is the earliest that eruption has started in this location for the last year since this eruption sequence started in Svartsengi volcano. The time between eruption is however among the longest ones or 77 days. The fissure that the eruption is happening in is at current time around 3 km long.

Red dots along the Sundhnúkagígar crater row as it started erupting in Svartsengi volcano.
The earthquake activity in Sundhnúkagígar crater row. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.
The lava fountains of the eruption as it started at 23:25 UTC in Iceland. Cloud of gas drifts towards south as wind is blowing from the north.
Early in the eruption in Sundhnúkagígaröðinni. Screenshot from Rúv web camera.
The eruption at 00:53 UTC. The lava fountains are lower and the gas cloud is smaller. Lava is seen flowing to the west from the eruption.
The eruption at 00:53 UTC in Sundhnúkagígaröðinni in Svartsengi volcano. Screenshot from Rúv web camera.

The harmonic tremor signal at the start of the eruption was very small. Suggesting that this eruption is not that large. If that holds true, it is possible that this eruption is not going to last that long and might be over by next week at the longest. Only time is going to tell if that happens or not. The main eruption happens in the first 6 to 8 hours.

If needed. I’ll write a new update on what is going on.

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Earthquake in Askja volcano

Yesterday (10-November 2024) at 08:13 UTC an earthquake with the magnitude of Mw3,0 took place in Askja volcano. This earthquake had few minor aftershocks, but nothing more happened following this earthquake.

Green star at the end of this map. In Askja volcano. There is one blue dot, showing a smaller earthquake in Krafla volcano.
Earthquake activity in Askja volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

There is magma flowing into Askja volcano at current time. However I do not think this time it is going to result in a eruption. If this earthquake is connected to this magma inflow I do not know.

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Small dyke intrusion into Sundhnúkagígar in Svartsengi volcano during the night (4-November 2024)

During the night of 4th November 2024 at 02:30 to around 03:00 UTC an small dyke intrusion took place in Sundhnúkagígar crater in Svartsengi volcano. Around 20 to 25 earthquakes took place in this minor dyke intrusion that stopped as quickly as it had started.

Dots of small earthquakes all over Reykjanes peninsula. The dots in Svartsengi volcano, in Sundhnúkagígar crater row. This group of small earthquakes is the dyke intrusion that was trying to happen during the night.
Earthquakes in Svartsengi volcano, Sundhnúkagígar crater row. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

There is a ongoing risk of more sudden dyke intrusion like this. Those can go on for hours and might not even erupt at all. A lot more earthquake activity is going to happen if such a dyke intrusion happens.

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Increased activity in Geysir hot spring area

It was reported yesterday (21-October-2024) and today (22-October-2024) that there is a increase activity in hot springs in Geysir area on Saturday 19-October-2024. Many of the hot springs are now hotter and erupting quicker and are more bubbling. Creating a risk for tourist travelling this area. Why this is happening is not known, since there are no signs of movement in the surface and have not been detected by Icelandic Met Office. Video of this increase in activity can be seen on Icelandic Met Office Facebook page.

Geysir hot spring area is part of a small volcano in this area. It last erupted more than 12.000 years ago. When last eruption took place is not know. This volcano is leaving an active period in next 500.000 years to 1.000.000 years, until it becomes extinct volcano. This happens because of the continental drift in Iceland.

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Large earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano

Today (06-October-2024) at 17:56 UTC an earthquake with magnitude Mw4,5 to Mw5,1 took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. Icelandic Met Office reported this earthquake as Mw4,5 and EMSC reported this earthquake as Mw5,0. USGS reported this earthquake as Mw5,1. Yesterday (05-October 2024) two magnitude Mw3,7 and Mw3,9 earthquakes took place in Bárðarbunga volcano.

Four green stars in Bárðarbunga volcano. One to the north-east and the other to the south-west. There are few other points on the map, showing smaller earthquakes.
Earthquake activity in Bárðarbungna volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano happens because of inflation that is now happening in Bárðarbunga volcano. This inflation is going to take decades to complete and in that time, this type of earthquake activity is going to be frequent with several magnitude Mw5,0 earthquake over the year, but fewer as the time goes on from last eruption (ended in February 2015). After 10 to 30 years, there is only going to be one magnitude Mw5,0 earthquake larger every few years.

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Earthquake activity in Katla volcano

Today (30-September 2024) at 05:35 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,6 took place in Katla volcano. This earthquake was not felt. This earthquake happens right after a minor glacier flood from Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

Green star in the north part of Katla volcano. A long with few smaller dots showing smaller earthquakes that also happened.
Earthquake activity in Katla volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

There has not been any more earthquakes following this activity. Overall the activity at the writing of this article is quiet and has been so since the small eruption in July in Katla volcano. Small and large glacier flood can happen without warning from Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

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Two earthquakes in Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcano

Today (29-September 2024) at 17:40 and 17:43 UTC two earthquakes with magnitude of Mw3,6 and Mw3,3 took place in Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcano. This earthquakes where felt in Reykjavík and nearby towns.

Two green stars on top of each other along with blue and orange dots that are showing smaller earthquakes from today and last few days in the same area. Earthquakes in other areas of Reykjanes peninsula.
Earthquakes in Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Earthquake activity has been increasing in last few weeks in Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcano. The reason for this increase is unclear at this moment.

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Earthquake with magnitude Mw5,0 in Bárðarbunga volcano

Today (3-September 2024) at 16:31 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw5,0 took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. This was followed by few smaller earthquakes and there has been increased minor earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano in recent days.

Green star in the east part of Bárðarbunga volcano in Vatnajökull glacier. Along with few dots that are orange in colour and mark the locations of smaller earthquakes.
Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This size of earthquake is going to happen in Bárðarbunga volcano at least once to twice a year for the next 40 to 60 years. I am not expecting an eruption in Bárðarbunga volcano until at least 2120 and no earlier then the year 2090. Until then, its going to be decades of earthquake activity like this one.

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Earthquake swarm in Krýsuvík volcano

Yesterday (25. August 2024) at 23:56 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,6 took place in Krýsuvík volcano. This earthquake was felt in Reykjavík area and other nearby towns.

Green star just south of Kleifarvatn lake. Along with few orange dots showing the smaller earthquakes.
The earthquake activity in Krýsuvík volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This is a normal tectonic earthquake. I don’t know if it is a response to stress changes because of Svartsengi volcano cycle of inflation and deflation. This earthquake swarm seems to be over for now.

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Update on the eruption in Svartsengi on 23. August 2024 at 17:39 UTC

This is a short update on the eruption in Svartsengi volcano. This information might go outdated quickly.

  • The eruption is now on a 2 km long fissure. It is located just north of Stóra Skógfell. This is the most north part of the eruption fissure so far. Total length of the eruption fissure is 7 km, but most parts of it have stopped erupting.
  • The eruption can be seen from Reykjanesbraut on the way to Keflavík or Keflavík airport.
  • It is impossible to know how long this eruption is going to last. But harmonic tremor is already dropping and has been doing that since around 06:00 this morning. This eruption might last a day or it might last a month, at current time it is impossible to know.
  • Icelandic Met Office lost a seismometer (Litla Skógarfell) and a GPS station under lava in this eruption. So far, its only two stations. Since one (Norðurljósavegur) GPS station had been moved out of harms way earlier in August.
  • Largest earthquakes had the magnitude of Mw4,1 and Mw3,3. The larger one was just off Fagradalsfjall volcano and the smaller one was in Keilir mountain. The larger one was felt in Reykjavík and nearby areas.

This eruption can change without warning. If anything worth reporting happens. I’ll write a new article about what is going on.