A powerful 4.5 magnitude earthquake was detected early Monday morning south west off Reykjanestá, the SW tip of Reykjanes peninsula.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office reports that the quake, which took place at 3:40 in the morning was followed by two 2.7 magnitude quakes, and then a swarm of smaller quakes. More than 80 quakes, most of the magnitude 1-2 on the Richter scale were detected in the area where the first quakes hit. The swarm seems to have slowed down by 7:00 AM, as just three quakes detected between 7:00 and 8:45 AM.
Early Sunday morning Iceland's most powerful volcano also trembled. A 3.5 magnitude quake was detected in Bárðarbunga volcano at 2:17 AM.
Read more: All of Iceland‘s major volcanoes showing unusually high levels of activity
The epicenter of the swarm is just north-west of Eldey island, a small islet located around 16 km (10 mi) southwest of the tip of Reykjanes peninsula, Reykjanestá. Eldey is a sheer rock stack, populated by seabirds, was formed in submarine eruption on the Reykjanes ridge, a very active part of the North Atlantic ridge.
The area where the quakes took place is very active, erupting on average two times each century. Similar swarms have been recorded several times in previous years, generally lasting for a couple of days without resulting in an observable eruption. The last major earthquake swarms was detected in the region in May 2015 and February of this year.
It is highly unlikely the tremors are connected to the earthquakes in Bárðarbunga over the weekend.
A powerful 4.5 magnitude earthquake was detected early Monday morning south west off Reykjanestá, the SW tip of Reykjanes peninsula.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office reports that the quake, which took place at 3:40 in the morning was followed by two 2.7 magnitude quakes, and then a swarm of smaller quakes. More than 80 quakes, most of the magnitude 1-2 on the Richter scale were detected in the area where the first quakes hit. The swarm seems to have slowed down by 7:00 AM, as just three quakes detected between 7:00 and 8:45 AM.
Early Sunday morning Iceland's most powerful volcano also trembled. A 3.5 magnitude quake was detected in Bárðarbunga volcano at 2:17 AM.
Read more: All of Iceland‘s major volcanoes showing unusually high levels of activity
The epicenter of the swarm is just north-west of Eldey island, a small islet located around 16 km (10 mi) southwest of the tip of Reykjanes peninsula, Reykjanestá. Eldey is a sheer rock stack, populated by seabirds, was formed in submarine eruption on the Reykjanes ridge, a very active part of the North Atlantic ridge.
The area where the quakes took place is very active, erupting on average two times each century. Similar swarms have been recorded several times in previous years, generally lasting for a couple of days without resulting in an observable eruption. The last major earthquake swarms was detected in the region in May 2015 and February of this year.
It is highly unlikely the tremors are connected to the earthquakes in Bárðarbunga over the weekend.
