This is a automatic article so people can continue discussions if something is happening in Iceland.
Automatic article 14th of July
This is an automatic article so people can comment if something happens in Iceland.
Announcement: No new articles until at least 29th July
Due to the sudden passing of my step father on 11th of July there are not going to be any new updates until at least 29th July, possibly not until 16th of August. I just don’t know yet. I am going to Iceland for the funeral and other things that follow this whole thing.
I’m going to set-up a automatic posts for people can continue comment if something happens (they won’t appear on Facebook or Twitter). If comment get stuck in moderation or go to spam. I’ll do my best to free those comment once I see them. Internet connection is not good at my mother place so I don’t know how that goes once I’m there and my laptop is in really bad shape.
Automatic articles are going to appear on this days. They are going to be marked as such.
14th July
29th July
12th August
Small glacier flood from Mýrdalsjökull glacier
A small glacier flood started from Mýrdalsjökull glacier few days ago. The most risk is from sulphur gases and other gases from the glacier flood that might be concentrated in lower areas. There is also a minor risk of the flood destroying walking path bridges in the area it goes over. This glacier flood might go into Emstruá river and there is the risk of destroying walking path bridges in the area. No other risk is expected from this minor glacier flood from Mýrdalsjökull glacier. This is a normal summer release of hydrothermal water from the glacier. Happens every other year and sometimes every year.
Earthquakes between Bárðarbunga and Grímsfjall volcanoes
Today (05-July-2016) at 05:56 UTC an magnitude 3,4 earthquake took place between Bárðarbunga and Grímsfjall volcanoes.
The green star is the magnitude 3,4 earthquake between Bárðarbunga and Grímsfjall volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.
This earthquake suggests that an complication is on the way. The question here is if an interaction between Bárðarbunga volcano and Grímsfjall volcano is on the way. Since both volcanoes are preparing for an eruption. [Speculation!] All that I get from my models (in my mind, since I don’t have the computer power or the skills to make them PC friendly at the moment) is confusion. At worst a magma dyke from either Bárðarbunga volcano might enter Grímsfjall volcano or an dyke might come from Grímsfjall and enter Bárðarbunga volcano (hint: A result of either of such event is rather catastrophic eruption, even if just for a short time). What can also happen is nothing, just earthquakes and nothing more. However, increase in the earthquake activity at this location suggests that no such luck is on the way. When and if such event happens is impossible to know, what can be done is to keep monitoring, day and night. This is going to happen the when and the way it wants to happen, all that can be done as humans is to wait and see. [/Speculation!]
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Earthquake swarm north of Kolbeinsey Island
Today (05-July-2016) an earthquake swarm took place far north of Kolbeinsey Island. Earthquake activity in this area of the ocean has been increasing over the past few months. It’s unclear what is going on at the moment.
The earthquake activity north of Kolbeinsey Island. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.
Largest earthquakes in this swarm had the magnitude around 2,9 – 3,4. Good magnitude estimate is not possible due to the distance from the SIL network. What exactly is going on at this location is unclear. I do not rule out any eruption activity at this location when earthquake swarms take place. This might also just be normal earthquake swarm without any eruption connection. The depth of the ocean at this location is around 3 – 5 km.