Month: December 2022

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Magnitude Mw3,1 earthquake in Katla volcano

Today (16. December 2022) at 21:44 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,1 took place in Katla volcano. This seems to be a single earthquake at the writing of this article.

Green star in Katla volcano caldera along with two yellow and two blue dots showing smaller earthquakes.
Earthquake activity in Katla volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity seems to be normal and there is nothing to suggests that more is going to happen in Katla volcano at this time.

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Earthquake swarm east of Iceland (45 km east of Fonti)

Today (15. December 2022) an earthquake swarm has been going around 45 km east of location known as Fonti in eastern Iceland. This location is out in the ocean and its unclear why this earthquake activity is happening. There are no volcanoes in this part of Iceland and no known fault areas. Since this is among the oldest parts of Iceland.

Largest earthquake in this swarm recorded so far, had the magnitude of M2,9. Distance from the SIL network prevents detection of smaller earthquakes in this area.

Picture of Iceland showing dots that show the smaller earthquakes all over Iceland. In eastern Iceland in the ocean, there's a cluster of small earthquakes shown in red dots and orange dots.
Earthquake swarm far east of Fonti in eastern Iceland. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.
Close up image of the earthquake activity from Fonti area from Skjálfta Lísa earthquake viewer on Icelandic Met Office website.
Close up image of the earthquake activity from Skjálfta Lísa earthquake viewer on Icelandic Met Office website. This only shows reviewed earthquakes. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

There is a risk of stronger earthquakes in this area. If this earthquakes are going to be felt in populated areas is unlikely unless this earthquake activity gets really big. Since this earthquake activity is far from the coastline and there’s almost no population in this parts of Iceland.

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Earthquake swarm in Reykjanes volcano (3-December-2022)

Today (03-December-2022) at 12:49 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,5 at 7,0 km depth. This was the largest earthquake in the swarm. Around of 40 earthquakes took place at the writing of this article. There are no reports about the largest earthquake was felt in nearby populated areas.

Green star on the left down corner of the image with orange dots showing smaller earthquakes. With few red dots in the same area.
Earthquake activity in the Reykjanes peninsula. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity suggest that a new inflation period is about to start in this part of the Reykjanes peninsula and Reykjanes ridge. There has been rather quiet time in Fagradalsfjall volcano and Reykjanes volcano since August when last eruption took place in Fagradalsfjall volcano. Reykjanes volcano has not erupted so far, but has continued activity of magma injection into the crust. When that is going to result in a eruption is impossible to know.