Posted on by Jón Frímann

Earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes ridge

On the 01-August-2015 an earthquake swarm took place on the Reykjanes ridge. This earthquake swarm was far off the coast line and populated areas and was only seen on instruments (seismometers). The earthquake swarm appears to be over for now, it might start again without a warning. Due to the distance from the coast it might be ongoing without being detected, since only largest earthquakes are being detected by Iceland Met Office.

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The earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes ridge. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

Largest earthquake in this swarm had the magnitude of 3,3. Other earthquakes where smaller in magnitude. There is a good chance there is a volcano at this location, it just isn’t well known. Any eruption at this location would not be seen on the surface of the ocean due to depth (1 – 3 km).

Böðvarshólar geophone: I have restarted the geophone in Böðvarshólar. Since I won’t be moving back to Denmark.
Sauðárkrókur geophone: I’m going to try getting into school at Sauðárkrókur in August due to the sudden plan changes. If I get in, I am going to be running a temporary geophone where I am going to be living during the years that I going to be in school learning electronics and other things (including, Danish, German and Spanish).

My geophone website can be found here.

Other: My plan on moving back to Denmark has been delayed permanently. The reason for that are law changes, both in EU and Denmark that make it difficult for people on social welfare to move there. At least that is my understanding of the current changes. They have also been creating problem currently and along with other tax related issues that I had to deal with. I decided that it was too much problem for me to move back to Denmark. I am just going to watch DR 1 – 3 instead along with television channels from Germany. I am at least now debt free in Denmark, since I have paid up my tax debt in Denmark that originally forced me to move back to Iceland.

Due to the reason that I am going to be permanently living in Iceland. I am now moving PayPal and other such items to Iceland. I won’t close down my danish paypal account (that is a big no-no). Paypal buttons are going to be moved to my Iceland paypal site in next few days when I have time. Direct donations option is also going to be moved to my Icelandic bank account rather than my danish one. I am going to close down my danish bank account and my danish paypal account in few years.

6 Replies to “Earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes ridge”

  1. Sorry to read of the legal issues which are obstructing you. It is interesting that there is free movement of labour between Denmark and Iceland and yet not free movement of social welfare in a user friendly way. From what you say the complications have worsened rather than improved which seems to me to be very unfair upon those who need social welfare because a disability handicaps them on the labour market. It must be very disappointing for you to have your hopes dashed in this manner. Hopefully when you have completed your schooling there may be a way for you to live where you wish to.

    1. This happens in current political climate. Sadly. This is the effect of two law changes, one from EU and one from within Denmark. I don’t know what they contain, what I do know is that they made processing the tax from foreign income more difficult in Denmark (and even more complicated for people on social welfare). Suggesting the change was big and detailed. This might just be the side effect of the law change, rather than intended effect (as sometimes happens).

      There is nothing I can do and so I had to make a chose and I’m going to stay in Iceland until at least the year 2035 (that year I am just going to do a review of current status, if possible). I do however expect that I am going to remain in Iceland for the rest of my life due to this.

  2. If this is an unintended consequence which hits those on social welfare in a particularly unfair way (even if that is unintended) it may be possible to look at whether this change would contravene the Human Rights Act and also disability discrimination rules. I do of course appreciate that is a lengthy and time consuming process and you have to get on with your life and make the very best of it no matter where you live.

  4. a notice of earthquakes 13/14km from Grimsvotn and one at the volcano itself. I think a slight increase of at activity I believe.

  5. Best of luck Jon with your new course. I’ve been reading your blog on and off since bardabunga last year and really appreciate your committment to getting the info out there, despite the problems you appear to have with your personal set-up. Hope all goes well for you in the near future and something good happens to settle your mind over your Iceland/Denmark dilemma. All best wishes – Ben

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