Month: December 2018

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Magnitude 4,4 earthquake in Hengill volcano (tectonic earthquake)

During the night of 30-December-2018 at 02:54 UTC an magnitude 4,4 earthquake took place in Hengill volcano. This earthquake was felt over a wide area. Largest aftershock had a magnitude of 2,2 so far.


The earthquake (green star) in Hengill volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.


The earthquake as it appeared on Heklubyggð geophone station. This image is under Creative commons licence. See CC Licence website for more information.


The earthquake as it appeared in Böðvarshólar geophone station. This image is under Creative commons licence. See CC Licence website for more information.

The earthquake swarm is ongoing as of writing of this article. It is not possible to know what is going to happen in next few hours in this area. Risk of more earthquake is always present. This earthquake activity is tectonic in nature.

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Update for donations

If you donate directly with a bank. Please update your information. From now on all the donations that I get with a bank transfer go to my Icelandic bank. This is not going to change when I move from Iceland. New bank information can be found here on the donation website.

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Magnitude 4,8 earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano

Last night (28-December-2018) there was a strong earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Largest earthquake was at 01:16 UTC and had a magnitude of 4,8. Third largest earthquake happened at 01:20 UTC and had a magnitude of 3,5 second largest earthquake happened at 01:38 UTC and had a magnitude of 3,7. Last earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 2,8 and happened at 01:46 UTC. This earthquake swarm has now ended.


Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano (green stars). Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity happens since Bárðarbunga volcano is inflating and has been doing so since April or May 2015. The rate of earthquakes that are larger than 4,5 seems to be increasing (it takes a few more months to know for sure). This is the second or the third earthquake that is larger than 4,5 in Bárðarbunga volcano in 2018. It would not surprise me if an earthquake with magnitude of 5,5 or larger start to happen in few months to years time. There are no signs that this earthquake activity is going to result in a eruption from Bárðarbunga volcano.

Donations

Please remember to support my work with donations. Thanks for the support. 🙂

Update for donations

If you donate directly with a bank. Please update your information. From now on all the donations that I get with a bank transfer go to my Icelandic bank. This is not going to change when I move from Iceland. New bank information can be found here on the donation website.

Article updated on 29-December-2018. Updated information about direct bank donations.

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Earthquake swarm on Reykjanes peninsula (close to Fagradalsfjall mountain)

Yesterday (19-December-2018) an earthquake swarm started close to Fagradalsfjall mountain on Reykjanes peninsula. Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 3,2. This earthquake swarm is ongoing as of writing of this article.


Earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes peninsula. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

The largest earthquake was felt in Grindavík village, that is the closest to this earthquake swarm. Around 160 earthquakes have been recorded in this swarm.

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Earthquake swarm close to Herðubreið

Since yesterday (18-December-2018) there has been a earthquake swarm close to Herðubreið (Wikipedia). Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 2,7. The earthquake swarm is currently ongoing and there is a risk of larger earthquake happening in this area.


Earthquake swarm in Herðubreið area (red dots). Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Over 140 earthquakes have been recorded so far and since this earthquake swarm is currently ongoing that number is going to change. This earthquake swarm appears to be only tectonic in nature. There is no sign of magma movement in the crust on nearby SIL stations.

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Earthquake swarm in Bárðarbunga volcano

This morning (17-December-2018) an earthquake swarm started in Bárðarbunga volcano. Largest earthquake in this swarm had magnitude of 3,6. Other earthquakes have been smaller in magnitude.


Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity is a sign that Bárðarbunga volcano has not slowed down on inflating. I don’t know how much the inflation is since I have not seen GPS data for Bárðarbunga volcano in a while.

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Earthquake swarm in Öræfajökull volcano

Today (8-December-2018) there has been a fresh earthquake activity in Öræfajökull volcano. This earthquake swarm was in the northern part of the caldera, or just outside it.


Earthquake activity in Öræfajökull volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 2,6. Other earthquakes had a magnitude of 0,2 to 0,8. This is normal for Öræfajökull volcano in its current phase.

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Earthquake activity in Þórðarhyrna volcano (Thordarhyrna)

During the night of 3-December-2018 earthquake activity started in Þórðarhyrna volcano (no GVP profile, under Grímsvötn volcano profile). Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of 2,1 and second largest earthquake had a magnitude of 2,0.


Þórðarhyrna volcano is located south-west of Grímsvötn volcano. Yellow dots on this image. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Last eruption in Þórðarhyrna volcano was in the year 1902 December to 1904 12-January and was a VEI=4 eruption. An eruption happened in Grímsvötn volcano at the same time.

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Two earthquake swarms in Öræfajökull volcano

Today (1-December-2018) two earthquake swarm took place in Öræfajökull volcano.


Earthquake activity in Öræfajökull volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Largest earthquakes in this two earthquake swarms had magnitude of 1,1. All other earthquakes are smaller in magnitude. What is unusual now is that there are two earthquake swarms happening in Öræfajökull volcano. In last few months only one area has been having earthquakes at time. It is worth keeping a eye out for this change if it holds.

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