A 3.4 magnitude earthquake was detected in Bárðarbunga caldera early Sunday morning. The earthquake was followed by a few smaller quakes, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. These quakes follow the trend of increasing seismic activity in the volcano over the past few months. Several earthquakes which have been larger than 3 on the Richter scale have hit Bárðarbunga in the past weeks.
Read more: Earthquakes keep hitting Iceland's most powerful volcano
Activity in Bárðarbunga, which is located beneath Vatnajökull glacier, in the Central Highlands, and sits at the centre of one of the most powerful volcanic systems in Iceland, has been gaining steam in the past few months. The current activity, which began earlier this year, comes at the heels of an eruption just north of Bárðarbunga in 2014-2015. The Holuhraun eruption came from the Bárðarbunga system.
Read more: Bárðarbunga continues to stir with a 3.3 magnitude quake and a swarm of smaller quakes
Scientists cannot tell with certainty what is causing the recent activity, but the most likely cause is the accumulation of magma below the volcano. Scientists at the Icelandic Meteorological Office maintain a close watch of Bárðarbunga, but stress that there is no reason to expect an imminent eruption.
A 3.4 magnitude earthquake was detected in Bárðarbunga caldera early Sunday morning. The earthquake was followed by a few smaller quakes, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. These quakes follow the trend of increasing seismic activity in the volcano over the past few months. Several earthquakes which have been larger than 3 on the Richter scale have hit Bárðarbunga in the past weeks.
Read more: Earthquakes keep hitting Iceland's most powerful volcano
Activity in Bárðarbunga, which is located beneath Vatnajökull glacier, in the Central Highlands, and sits at the centre of one of the most powerful volcanic systems in Iceland, has been gaining steam in the past few months. The current activity, which began earlier this year, comes at the heels of an eruption just north of Bárðarbunga in 2014-2015. The Holuhraun eruption came from the Bárðarbunga system.
Read more: Bárðarbunga continues to stir with a 3.3 magnitude quake and a swarm of smaller quakes
Scientists cannot tell with certainty what is causing the recent activity, but the most likely cause is the accumulation of magma below the volcano. Scientists at the Icelandic Meteorological Office maintain a close watch of Bárðarbunga, but stress that there is no reason to expect an imminent eruption.
