Iceland geology – Page 109 – Volcano and earthquake activity in Iceland

December 11, 2015December 11, 2015

Earthquake swarm south-west of Langjökull volcano (Prestahnúkur)

Yesterday (10-December-2015) a earthquake swarm started in south-west Langjökull (Prestahnúkur volcano [Wikipedia page here]). Currently the earthquake swarm is ongoing. This is a slow earthquake swarm so far, not creating many earthquake over period of one hour. Largest earthquake so far had the magnitude of 3,2. Other earthquakes have been smaller, but many earthquakes are over 2,5 in magnitude. The largest earthquake was felt in nearby town of Hvanneyri and possibly other farms close to the location where the earthquake swarm is taking place.

The earthquake swarm in south Langjökull volcano (Prestahnúkur). The earthquake swarm is located in one spot. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

This earthquake activity is appearing on my geophones when it comes to earthquakes over magnitude 1,9. Every 10 to 20 years this area has earthquake swarms that creates earthquakes with magnitude 4,0 and above. Last such earthquake swarm was something over 10 years ago if my memory is correct. At the moment there is nothing suggesting that eruption might happen at this volcano any time soon. Last eruption took place 3500BCE (GVP information).

December 10, 2015

Minor earthquake swarm in Krafla volcano

On 7-December-2015 a minor earthquake swarm took place in Krafla volcano. The strongest earthquake in this swarm had the magnitude of 3,2. I don’t know if it was felt in nearby town. It was followed by few minor earthquakes, both before and after.

The earthquake swarm in Krafla volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

I don’t expect any more earthquake activity in Krafla volcano. At least not outside normal background activity.

December 6, 2015December 8, 2015

Weather warning for Iceland Monday-07 and 08-Tuesday December-2015

Weather warning for Iceland on 07 and 08 December-2015.

If you are a tourist and if you know a tourist in Iceland at the moment. Please follow the following advice given by the Iceland Met Office.

After 15:00 UTC it is advised against all travel tomorrow, even in emergency. If you have an emergency during the storm contact 112 for advice and help. Problems with power and communication problems can and should be expected tomorrow during the duration of the storm.

I’m expecting both of my geophone to stop working at some time during this storm, due to power loss, loss of 3G signal or WiMax signal (Heklubyggð) or some other issues that might appear during this storm. Nothing can be done about this and I just hope for the best during this weather.

Wind forecast for tomorrow at 22:00 UTC. This is highly dangerous weather.

Please read the following news in English about the coming weather in Iceland on Monday.

Hurricane-force winds tomorrow (Rúv.is)
Violent storm with total white out to hit Iceland on Monday (mbl.is)
Hurricane force winds predicted for tomorrow (mbl.is)

Please check Iceland Met Office website and Facebook page for more details about this weather.

Update 1

English
The National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police in association with the District Commissioners in Iceland declares an uncertainty phase due to weather forecast from the meteorological office of a violent storm with hurrican force winds in all areas of Iceland
Travel advisory for all areas is in effect. Travellers are advised to avoid travelling in the South of Iceland from 1200 and in other areas from 1700. Uncertainty phase/level is characterized by an event which has already started and could lead to a threat to people, communities or the environment. At this stage the collaboration and coordination between the Civil Protection Authorities and stakeholders begins. Monitoring, assessment, research and evaluation of the situation is increased. The event is defined and a hazard assessment is conducted regularly..

(Almannavarnir Facebook page)

Update 2

Two of Vegagerðin wind stations that monitor wind did go down.

This is under Eyjafjöllum. Copyright of this image belongs to Vegagerðin in Iceland.

South of Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Vegagerðin in Iceland.

Article updated at 17:48 UTC.
Article updated at 11:18 UTC on 07-December-2015
Article updated at 06:17 UTC on 08-December-2015

December 3, 2015

Earthquake swarm in Torfajökull volcano

Today (03-December-2015) a small earthquake swarm took place in Torfajökull volcano. This was a small earthquake swarm and none of the earthquakes did go above magnitude 2,0. Depth suggests that origins of this earthquake swarm can be traced to hydrothermal changes taking place in the volcano.

The earthquake activity in Torfajökull volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

This type of earthquake activity happens in Torfajökull volcano since magma is at shallow depth in a wide area inside the caldera. Nothing else is expected to happen.

November 28, 2015November 28, 2015

Deep earthquakes in Katla volcano – renewed activity

Yesterday (27-November-2015) new earthquake activity took place in Katla volcano. This activity, in part of the Katla volcano caldera is a repeated pattern, this means that this has happened before. Last activity of this type took place in September (from what I remember). This activity suggests that a magma is building up at the east part of the caldera at the depth of 20 – 28 km (in my view). Currently there is no risk of eruption.

Earthquake activity in Katla volcano on 27-November-2015. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

It is difficult to know if there is going to be more activity in Katla volcano. It might happen and it might not. All that can be done is to wait and see.

Changes in Amazon advertisements

Due to agreement changes regarding Amazon advertisement (or associates it’s called in some markets) I have to close down my accounts for Italy and Spain right now. That is due to the fact that I don’t have any income from those accounts. I’ve had little income (one sale) on Amazon France, but if it’s usage does not increase soon I’m also going to close it down soon. The reason for this is that Amazon now takes a “maintenance fee” from accounts that don’t have any income. This is new and I’m not going to support Amazon in this way if I can avoid it. So any Amazon account for advertisements that doesn’t provide income for a long period of time is going to get closed down (this are periods of at least 12 months).

Donations

Please remember to support my work with donations or by using Amazon advertisements to buy stuff. Thanks for the support.

The move back to Denmark

I’m going to move back to Denmark in March of 2016 (maybe earlier) if everything has been shorted out. I’m not sure if that is going to happen, currently I’m dealing with a large issue with the Danish Tax and I can’t move to Denmark until that has been resolved.

Article updated at 02:18 UTC.

November 19, 2015

Inflation confirmed at Bárðarbunga volcano

Iceland Met Office confirmed today that inflation has started in Bárðarbunga volcano. According to images released by Iceland Met Office this inflation is not huge at the moment, that might change without warning if magma starts flowing into Bárðarbunga volcano magma chamber at faster rate then it currently is doing.

Inflation as recorded by Iceland Met Office. This recording has been corrected for normal tectonic drift, glacier movements and dyke intrusion from Holuhraun eruption. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

The inflation as it appears on GPS station on Bárðarbunga volcano. It has been corrected in the same was image above. Arrow show much the inflation is on each GPS station and the direction it is moving. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

The problem here is that Bárðarbunga volcano continues to settle into new form after the eruption in Holuhraun, since there was a quiet magma chamber collapse during that eruption. The question remains how much strain the caldera can now take after the collapse and other unknown factor is that it is not known how much magma is needed before an new eruption can start or how long time this process takes. For the moment the only thing that can be done is to continue monitor what is going on in Bárðarbunga volcano.

November 18, 2015

Earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes peninsula (Fagradalsfjall mountain)

Yesterday (17-November-2015) and today (18-November-2015) an earthquake swarm started on the Reykjanes peninsula, this earthquake swarm took place in Fagradalsfjall mountain. Total of 80 – 90 earthquakes took place, none of them larger than magnitude 2,1.

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

This earthquake swarm looks like a fault swarm, rather than anything connected to a volcano. Earthquake activity might continue in this area for next few days, with a risk of earthquakes with magnitude above 3,0 happening.

November 17, 2015November 17, 2015

Fresh earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano

At 12:39 UTC (16-November-2015) a magnitude 3,2 earthquake took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. The depth of this earthquake was only 0,5 km so it was not created by magma movement, rather stress changes in the crust. This earthquake took place in south-east part of the caldera.

The magnitude 3,2 earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano on 16-November-2015. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

There seems to be an minor increase in earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano, this was mentioned in news today in Iceland about this earthquake. Iceland Met Office is keeping a watch for any changes that might be taking place in Bárðarbunga volcano and nearby area. Earthquake activity doesn’t appear to be quieting down even if the eruption in Holuhraun is over.

November 15, 2015November 15, 2015

Deep earthquakes close to Trölladyngja (Bárðarbunga volcano)

During the night of 15-November-2015 a swarm of deep earthquakes took place not far from Trölladyngja. The thing about Trölladyngja is directly connected to Bárðarbunga volcano and its eruption cycles. Trölladyngja it self was formed in a eruption in the year 5000 BCE, according to historical overview from Global Volcanism Program. According to some sources, Trölladyngja is a shield volcano, I don’t know if that is exactly correct. Regardless of what type of volcano Trölladyngja is, there is clearly something going on in it. Since this is not the first time I see earthquake swarm at this depth at this location. I doubt that this are stress related changes in the crust due the collapse of Bárðarbunga volcano caldera.

The earthquake activity in Trölladyngja (red dot). Image is from 05:50 UTC. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

All of the earthquakes taking place were small, the largest had the magnitude of 1,1 and the depth was from 18 – 15 km.

In the early days of the earthquake swarm that started in Bárðarbunga in August-2014 a dyke intrusion pushed into this direction and than it just stopped as it lost the energy, or hit a obstacle that it was unable to break trough.

Image from August-2014. The earthquake activity close to Trölladyngja is clear on this image. Copyright of this image belongs to Iceland Met Office.

I don’t know yet what the chances are for an eruption at this location. More earthquake swarm activity is needed until the magma that is clearly down there breaks up. However the rifting that is taking place in this location might speed things up by unknown factor. This rifting might and possibly is allowing more magma entering this area deep underground without any earthquake activity. It is difficult to know what is going on at this location, so a lot of this is a speculation on what might happen. What actually happens in the end is a whole different thing and only time is going to tell us what happens next.

November 14, 2015November 14, 2015

Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano

I’m sorry for lack of articles. It has been quiet in Iceland for the past few weeks and I needed some time off after the work I’ve been in. I’ve also been dealing with a tax problem in Denmark, that issue is on-going for me (sadly) and might delay my move back to Denmark, how much I do not know yet.

Earthquake activity continues in Bárðarbunga volcano continues, this are mostly minor earthquakes that are taking place. Most of the earthquake activity is taking place on the north-east part of Bárðarbunga volcano caldera. According to Iceland Met Office this is due to continued subsidence of the volcano at that location. It is my view that Iceland Met Office estimate is correct, with just one exception. It is my view that magma pressure inside Bárðarbunga volcano is increasing, based on latest data, the pressure increase might be happen at more depth than I first estimated.

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

I’m also seeing cases of increased hydrothermal activity south of Bárðarbunga volcano, in Hamarinn volcano. This was best seen in the larger size of Skaftárkatlar cauldron. This change in size suggests higher output of hydrothermal activity and it might be connected to higher magma activity at depth in this volcano. It is difficult to be sure since the area is covered with a glacier, but it is a well known sign impending eruption in many cases. There are few cases when there is a increase in hydrothermal activity without an eruption taking place. It is impossible to know when anything might happen in Hamarinn volcano, if anything happens at all to start with. Last minor eruption that took place in Hamarinn volcano (in my view) was in July-2011, it lasted around 8 hours with breaks.

Donations

Please remember to support my work with donations or by using the Amazon banners for Christmas shopping (or just shopping). Thanks for the support.

Twich and Youtube

I’m currently testing my game stream on Twich here. My Youtube stream tests can be found here. This Youtube channel is a work in progress. I have a other YouTube channel (can be viewed here), it however mostly just contains nature video. Since I’m on slow 3G internet connect at the moment I won’t do a lot of streaming, just basic tests in order to learn how to properly due this. I won’t run many more tests with Youtube than I already have, it seems to work rather well as is.

Article update at 23:29 UTC. I changed the YouTube channel for streams. I’m going to use a other channel on YouTube with the same name as my Twitch channel. The name is Channel 99 on Twitch and YouTube.

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