Day: October 24, 2012

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Uncertainty level is declared in north Iceland due to risk of large earthquake from TFZ

Uncertainty level has been declared in north Iceland due to risk of large earthquake taking place in TFZ. This is done after consulting scientists that have been monitoring this area for the past few days since the earthquake swarm started in TFZ. It is still impossible to know when a large earthquake might take place in TFZ. But the earthquake swarm is still ongoing with little change.

The Civil Protection of Iceland announcement

Óvissustigi almannavarna lýst yfir vegna jarðskjálftahrinu úti fyrir Norðurlandi (Icelandic)

Icelandic news about this

Óvissustigi almannavarna lýst yfir (Rúv.is)
Lýsa yfir óvissustigi almannavarna vegna jarðskjálftahrinu (mbl.is)

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Earthquake update on TFZ at 19:00 UTC on 24.10.2012

There is little change in the earthquake activity at TFZ today. The amount of earthquake activity on TFZ is about the same today as it was yesterday. But when this is written there have been about 100 earthquakes. But that number is going to change soon, as new earthquakes continue to happen.


The earthquake swarm in TFZ as it is today at 24.10.2012. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.


The trace of the earthquake activity during the past 48 hours. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

Earthquake activity has moved a bit to the south. In the area what is called Flatey-Húsavíkur fault. This fault is known for making up to Mw7.0 earthquakes. If that is going to happen now is impossible to know at current time. But IMO has told of this risk in an news bit from yesterday (see yesterday blog post). For the moment however. The only thing that can be done is to wait and see what happens next in TFZ.

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Large amount of stress in Tjörnes fracture zone

According to a news by Icelandic Meteorological Office. There is enough stress in the Tjörnes Fracture Zone for magnitude 6.8 earthquake. This is based on a study (Metzger o.fl., 2011). When and where this stress, or if it is going to be released in one 6.8 magnitude earthquake is impossible to know for sure. As it is impossible to predict behavior of this type of earthquake activity.


The circle shows the odd earthquake swarm on 22.10.2012 that where more east then the main earthquake swarm in TFZ. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Meteorological Office.

For the time being, at least while the earthquake swarm is currently ongoing. It is best to keep an eye out for it and any sudden changes in it. But as I sad before. It is impossible to predict this events. All that can be done is to wait and hope for the best when this earthquake activity do starts to happen.

Current earthquake swarm in TFZ is still ongoing. But earthquake activity so far continues to drop at the same rate as before.

Icelandic Meteorological Office news

Earthquake activity offshore North Iceland continues (en.vedur.is)