Volcano and earthquake activity in Iceland
Today (23.01.2017) an earthquake with magnitude 3,9 took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. This is the strongest earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano for several weeks now.
Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.
Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano are due to inflation of the volcano after the Holuhraun 2014 – 2015 eruption.
Since Saturday 21 of January 2017 there has been unusual earthquake activity taking place in Katla volcano (for this time of the year). Small earthquake swarms have been scattered all over the caldera, largest earthquakes so far have only reached magnitude of 2,4. Other earthquakes have been smaller in magnitude.
The earthquake activity in Katla volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.
This earthquake activity is unusual since normally Katla volcano is quiet in January and until June and often until mid-July when earthquake activity starts again. Current activity is unusual since snow has been adding on the glacier since it started snowing in Iceland this winter (November I think it was). Higher areas get snow sooner then lower areas, so it started earlier on Mýrdalsjökull glacier that is on top of Katla volcano. Currently the earthquake activity is ongoing, even if it has slowed down a little for the past few hours.
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