A powerful earthquake swarm was detected on Reykjanes peninsula yesterday. The swarm, which includes four powerful magnitude 3+ earthquakes, counted nearly 40 quakes.
Read more: All of Iceland‘s major volcanoes showing unusually high levels of activity
The epicenter of the swarm is Geirfuglasker (somtimes referred to as Geirfugladrangur), a small islet located around 30 km (19 m) southwest of the tip of Reykjanes peninsula, Reykjanestá. Geirfuglasker, like the Eldey stack which is located just off the coast of Reykjanes, were formed in submarine eruptions on the Reykjanes ridge, a very active part of the North Atlantic ridge.
According to the Icelandic Meteoroligical Office the four most powerful earthquakes in the swarm all hit between 19:27 and 20:10 on Sunday evening. They were accompanied by nearly 20 quakes which ranged from 2-2.7 magnitude and another 20 smaller quakes.
Read more: Two powerful earthquakes in Bárðarbunga over the weekend
Similar swarms have been recorded several times in previous years, generally lasting for a couple of days without resulting in an observable eruption. The area is known for frequent eruptive activity, with an average of two recorded eruptions per century. The last major earthquake swarm was detected in the region in May 2015.
It is highly unlikely the tremors are connected to the earthquakes in Bárðarbunga over the weekend or the increasing activity in all other major volcanic systems in Iceland.
Geirfuglasker derives its name from a colony of Great Auk (Geirfugl) a large flightless bird which was hunted to extinction in the 19th century. The name literally means The Skerry of the Great Auk: Geirfuglasker or The Stack of the Great Auk: Geirfugladrangur.
A powerful earthquake swarm was detected on Reykjanes peninsula yesterday. The swarm, which includes four powerful magnitude 3+ earthquakes, counted nearly 40 quakes.
Read more: All of Iceland‘s major volcanoes showing unusually high levels of activity
The epicenter of the swarm is Geirfuglasker (somtimes referred to as Geirfugladrangur), a small islet located around 30 km (19 m) southwest of the tip of Reykjanes peninsula, Reykjanestá. Geirfuglasker, like the Eldey stack which is located just off the coast of Reykjanes, were formed in submarine eruptions on the Reykjanes ridge, a very active part of the North Atlantic ridge.
According to the Icelandic Meteoroligical Office the four most powerful earthquakes in the swarm all hit between 19:27 and 20:10 on Sunday evening. They were accompanied by nearly 20 quakes which ranged from 2-2.7 magnitude and another 20 smaller quakes.
Read more: Two powerful earthquakes in Bárðarbunga over the weekend
Similar swarms have been recorded several times in previous years, generally lasting for a couple of days without resulting in an observable eruption. The area is known for frequent eruptive activity, with an average of two recorded eruptions per century. The last major earthquake swarm was detected in the region in May 2015.
It is highly unlikely the tremors are connected to the earthquakes in Bárðarbunga over the weekend or the increasing activity in all other major volcanic systems in Iceland.
Geirfuglasker derives its name from a colony of Great Auk (Geirfugl) a large flightless bird which was hunted to extinction in the 19th century. The name literally means The Skerry of the Great Auk: Geirfuglasker or The Stack of the Great Auk: Geirfugladrangur.
