Month: August 2020

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Ongoing earthquake swarm in Krýsuvík and Reykjanes volcanoes boundaries

Yesterday (29-August-2020) an ongoing earthquake swarm in Krýsuvík volcano or in the Reykjanes volcano increased. I am unclear what volcano system is responsible for this earthquake activity. It might be both volcanoes and if that is case it complicates matter.


The earthquake activity yesterday close to Krýsuvík or in Krýsuvík volcano. Used with permission and copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of Mw3,6 at 19:06 UTC and the second largest earthquake had a magnitude of Mw3,4 at 16:23 UTC. Two earthquakes with magnitude MW3,0 also took place. The strongest earthquakes where felt in Reykjavík and other nearby towns. This earthquake activity is part of the activity that started in January in Reykjanes volcano and has been ongoing since then. Its has moved a little east in recent months and I am unclear on why that is exactly. There are no clear signs that magma is moving at the writing of this article to the surface.

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Strong earthquake swarm east of Fagradalsfjall mountain

Today (26-August-2020) a strong earthquake swarm took place east of Fagradalsfjall mountain. Strongest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of Mw4,2 and second strongest earthquake had a magnitude of Mw3,7. Three other earthquakes with magnitude above Mw3,0 took place in this earthquake swarm. At the writing of this article total of 350 earthquakes have taken place.


The earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes peninsula in Reykjanes volcano. Image used with permission and copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake swam seems to be at the most eastern end of a volcano called Reykjanes. This activity happens in swarms and at the writing of this article a new activity has started. It is not possible to know how long this activity is going to last. At the writing of this article there are no signs that magma has started to find a path to the surface and current data suggest this earthquake activity only to be tectonic earthquake currently. GPS data continues to suggest injection of magma into the crust at 8 km to 3 km depth in Reykjanes volcano. This injection of magma has been going on since January-2020.

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New earthquake swarm in Tjörnes Fracture Zone (volcano)

Today (21-August-2020) an earthquake swarm started in Tjörnes Fracture Zone volcano. It is unclear if this earthquake activity is because of tectonic activity. Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of Mw3,2 at the writing of this article. Other earthquakes in this swarm had smaller in magnitude.


The earthquake swarm (green star) in Tjörnes Fracture Zone. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This is a new earthquake swarm and is not connected to the earthquake swarm in the western part of Tjörnes Fracture Zone. This are two separate earthquake swarms now happening. This earthquake activity is ongoing at the writing of this article in both earthquake swarms.

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Unexpected glacier flood from south Langjökull glacier

On Monday 17-August-2020 a glacier flood took place from south Langjökull glacier. This glacier flood seems to have been unexpected and was it seems rather large. It killed fish in the rivers it flooded. This might be connected to a volcano called Presthnjúkar but that remains unclear at the writing of this article. There has been no earthquake or other activity in this area in recent days above background level.

Update 1

This glacier flood took part in the western south part of Langjökull glacier. It is not known the origin of this glacier flood due to cloud cover of the glacier yesterday (19-August-2020).

Update 2

Rúv News published an news today (20-August-2020) with videos of the area where the flood did come from. This was a glacier lake that emptied it self by breaking trough the end of Langjökull glacier resulting in this glacier flood.

News in Icelandic with a video

„Það hefur enginn séð neitt í líkingu við þetta“ (Rúv.is)

Article in Icelandic with pictures

Stór spýja hljóp fram Hvítá og rennsli árinnar nær þrefaldaðist (skessuhorn.is)

Update at 02:50 UTC on 20-August-2020.
Updated at 20:57 UTC on 20-August-2020

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Two strong earthquakes in Tjörnes Fracture Zone during the night

During the night of 8-August-2020 at 03:42 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw4,6 took place in Tjörnes Fracture Zone on Flatey – Húsavík fault. This earthquake was felt and did wake people up from their sleep. A second earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,7 took place at 03:52 UTC. Both earthquakes were felt. No damage happened in this earthquake. After the largest earthquakes happened a swarm of smaller earthquakes took place.


The earthquake activity in Tjörnes Fracture Zone. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake swarm is the same one that started on 19-June-2020 and has been ongoing since then. This earthquake swarm has not been as strong as it was in June at the moment. There is a permanent risk of a magnitude Mw7,0 earthquake in this area while the earthquake swarm is ongoing. There are no signs that this earthquake swarm is about to end.

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Renewed earthquake swarm activity in Tjörnes Fracture Zone (TFZ)

Today (4-August-2020) at 15:16 earthquake with magnitude Mw3,3 took place in Tjörnes Fracture Zone in the area that has been having earthquake swarm since 19-June-2020. Before this earthquake happened an increase in smaller earthquakes happened.


The earthquake swarm in Tjörnes Fracture Zone. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

The earthquake swarm in this area of Tjörnes Fracture Zone is now in its second month and doesn’t show any sign of ending. Currently there is a risk of a magnitude Mw7,0 earthquake in this area while this earthquake swarm continues.

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Two strong earthquakes in Reykjanes volcano

Yesterday (31-July-2020) two earthquakes with magnitude Mw3,4 and Mw3,0 took place in Reykjanes volcano. This earthquake activity is part of the inflation that is happening north of Grindavík town in the Reykjanes volcano.


Earthquake activity close to Fagradallsfjall mountain. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met office.

Earthquake activity in Reykjanes volcano is now mostly continues but it peaks with earthquake activity swarm like this one every few days to weeks. How much earthquake activity depends on how magma inflow is taking place at 3 to 10 km depth. It seems that flow rate is different between hours to days. Since the earthquake activity is continuous in Reykjanes volcano there is a permanent risk of magnitude Mw5,0 to Mw6,0 earthquake in this area.