Posted on by Jón Frímann

Short earthquake swarm on Reykjanes Ridge

This morning there was an short earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes Ridge. This earthquake swarm only lasted for about 1 hour. The largest earthquake had the size around ML3.1 (automatic size estimate).


The earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes Ridge this morning. Copyright of this picture belongs to Iceland Meteorological Office.

There is still a risk of this earthquake swarm is going to resume at any point for the moment. But it still might just be over. It is hard to know for sure at current time. The strongest earthquake was visible on my geophones in Iceland. The web page can be viewed here.

Icelandic news about this short earthquake swarm

Skjálftahrina á Reykjaneshrygg (mbl.is)

13 Replies to “Short earthquake swarm on Reykjanes Ridge”

  1. It has been quite obvious something was brewing under Reykjanes, quite what the knock on effects will be, time will tell. The last time this happened it was mirrored at Tjornes, but nothing significant there yet, but a noteable increase in small EQ’s.

    Neither the EMSC or NNSN are reporting anything to date, and Jons helicorders seem quiet enough. I still think there’s magma movement transferring, but I am such a cheerful soul ….

    1. I think Jon’s moving to demark today! So let him some time to get his stuff inthe right order 🙂

      1. demark is an interisting error in spellimg, sounds like the former German currency (;

    2. I am watching that one too, but we will have to wait to see the results of the research and new instruments up there, then we will have a better picture.

      The ‘harmonics’ from the SIL stations are interesting though, and backs up my theory about magma pressure equalising through channels. Do you see the pattern emerging of activity on land following fault activity off Reykjanes and Tjornes, if it follows pattern we may see some mag 3+ later this week. I am trying to map a pattern from the data.

  4. Very interesting 4.1 quake right on the San Andreas (one of the worlds most deadly faults). One this size right on the fault is rare. The fact that it is right on the fulcrum of the big bend portion of the fault where it is locked up and has the most strain may be an indication that it it loosing its ability to hold that load and may indicate more activity to come. An OMNINOUS sign if true.

    http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqscanv/
    http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-28/california-earthquake/54598912/1

  5. I have been watching the Mexico volcano for the last few days and today it appears that more activity is happening.
    This volcano can be explosive in nature.
    It is hard to see on Webcam but it does not seem like lee cloud but more like large plume of steam and light ash
    Can someone who is more expert take a look and see if this may be start of a disturbing eruption.
    Its the Popocatepetl volcano i have direct link to cam below
    http://www.floodwarn.co.uk/iceland_volcano.htm

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