A sharp earthquake swarm shook Iceland's largest volcano yesterday evening. The largest quake in the swarm, a 4.9 magnitude earthquake at 19:24, was the most powerful earthquake detected in Bárðarbunga since the end of the 2015 Holuhraun eruption. The eruption produced the largest lava field in Iceland since the 18th century.
The powerful quakes were accompanied by a dozen significant tremors, ranging from 1 to 2.9 on the Richter scale.
Any quake in an active volcano which is larger than three on the Richter scale is considered a powerful quake. Quakes larger than 4 are relatively rare, and are associated with significant geological activity in the volcano.
Read more: Quick primer on Bárðarbunga, Iceland's most powerful volcano
The Seismic Monitoring System of the the Icelandic Meteorological Office detected the first 3.7 magnitude quake 5.3 km (3.3 mi) northeast of the center of the volcano's caldera at a depth of 1.0 km (0.6 mi) at 17:48 yesterday afternoon. Twelve minute later the second 3.8 magnitude quake had an epicenter slightly closer to the caldera's center, at a depth of 1.6 km (1 mi). The largest 4.9 magnitude quake then came at 19:24 pm, in the same part of the caldera at a depth of 1.8 km (1.1 mi).
Volcano is filling up its lava chambers
Bárðarbunga has been showing significant level of activity in recent months. The quakes are connected caused by magma being thrust from the earth's mantle up into the lava chambers of the volcano. The volcano has been re-filling it's lava chambers since the end of the 2014-15 Holuhraun eruption.
Read more: Why the constant earthquakes? Iceland is slowly being torn apart
Bárðarbunga, which is one of the most powerful volcanic systems in Iceland, is hidden beneath the north-western part of the ice cap of Vatnajökull glacier.
A sharp earthquake swarm shook Iceland's largest volcano yesterday evening. The largest quake in the swarm, a 4.9 magnitude earthquake at 19:24, was the most powerful earthquake detected in Bárðarbunga since the end of the 2015 Holuhraun eruption. The eruption produced the largest lava field in Iceland since the 18th century.
The powerful quakes were accompanied by a dozen significant tremors, ranging from 1 to 2.9 on the Richter scale.
Any quake in an active volcano which is larger than three on the Richter scale is considered a powerful quake. Quakes larger than 4 are relatively rare, and are associated with significant geological activity in the volcano.
Read more: Quick primer on Bárðarbunga, Iceland's most powerful volcano
The Seismic Monitoring System of the the Icelandic Meteorological Office detected the first 3.7 magnitude quake 5.3 km (3.3 mi) northeast of the center of the volcano's caldera at a depth of 1.0 km (0.6 mi) at 17:48 yesterday afternoon. Twelve minute later the second 3.8 magnitude quake had an epicenter slightly closer to the caldera's center, at a depth of 1.6 km (1 mi). The largest 4.9 magnitude quake then came at 19:24 pm, in the same part of the caldera at a depth of 1.8 km (1.1 mi).
Volcano is filling up its lava chambers
Bárðarbunga has been showing significant level of activity in recent months. The quakes are connected caused by magma being thrust from the earth's mantle up into the lava chambers of the volcano. The volcano has been re-filling it's lava chambers since the end of the 2014-15 Holuhraun eruption.
Read more: Why the constant earthquakes? Iceland is slowly being torn apart
Bárðarbunga, which is one of the most powerful volcanic systems in Iceland, is hidden beneath the north-western part of the ice cap of Vatnajökull glacier.
