A sharp earthquake swarm, including a 3.0 magnitude earthquake was detected in Bárðarbunga caldera early morning. Four 2-3 magnitude quakes shook the N.E. edge of the caldera between 4:55 and 5:15. The epicenter of the largest, a 3.0 magnitude quake, was just below the surface, at a depth of 100 m (330 ft). The other quakes took place at a greater depth.
Read more: All of Iceland‘s major volcanoes showing unusually high levels of activity
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has been recording significant activity in the monster volcano in recent months. A similar earthquake swarm was recorded earlier this week in the S.E. part of the caldera.
Small volcanic earthquakes are signs of significant activity
While an earthquake swarm with 2-3 magnitude sounds rather insignificant when compared to the major earthquakes like those which hit areas near tectonic fault lines, like those in California or Italy, they are actually quite significant when they take place in volcanoes. Volcanic earthquakes tend to be smaller than earthquakes at the fault lines of continental shelves. In the case of volcanic earthquakes the tremors are caused by magma being thrust from the mantle up into the crust, rather than by the release of tension built up along the plate boundary.
In this case, it the magma chambers of Bárðarbunga are filling up again after the 2014 Holuhraun eruption. The Bárðarbunga volcano has generated some of the largest volcanic eruptions in Icelandic history. If the central volcano were to erupt its impact could be far greater than the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption.
A sharp earthquake swarm, including a 3.0 magnitude earthquake was detected in Bárðarbunga caldera early morning. Four 2-3 magnitude quakes shook the N.E. edge of the caldera between 4:55 and 5:15. The epicenter of the largest, a 3.0 magnitude quake, was just below the surface, at a depth of 100 m (330 ft). The other quakes took place at a greater depth.
Read more: All of Iceland‘s major volcanoes showing unusually high levels of activity
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has been recording significant activity in the monster volcano in recent months. A similar earthquake swarm was recorded earlier this week in the S.E. part of the caldera.
Small volcanic earthquakes are signs of significant activity
While an earthquake swarm with 2-3 magnitude sounds rather insignificant when compared to the major earthquakes like those which hit areas near tectonic fault lines, like those in California or Italy, they are actually quite significant when they take place in volcanoes. Volcanic earthquakes tend to be smaller than earthquakes at the fault lines of continental shelves. In the case of volcanic earthquakes the tremors are caused by magma being thrust from the mantle up into the crust, rather than by the release of tension built up along the plate boundary.
In this case, it the magma chambers of Bárðarbunga are filling up again after the 2014 Holuhraun eruption. The Bárðarbunga volcano has generated some of the largest volcanic eruptions in Icelandic history. If the central volcano were to erupt its impact could be far greater than the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption.
