A sharp earthquake swarm shook Iceland's largest volcano Monday morning. At 9:39 am a 3.5 magnitude quake was detected in the volcano, followed by a second 3.3 magnitude quake less than 10 minutes later, at 9:47. Half a dozen smaller quakes either followed or preceded the two more powerful tremors, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
The epicenter of the activity has been in the south-eastern part of the volcano's caldera at a significant depth. The two 3+ magnitude quakes were at a depth of 5.3 and 6.8 km (3.3 and 4.2 miles).
Read more: Quick primer on Bárðarbunga, Iceland's most powerful volcano
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. While the volcano has been relatively quiet for the past few weeks it has been significant signs of seismic activity since the end of the 2014-15 Holuhraun eruption. The activity is believed to be caused by the magma chambers of the giant sub-glacial volcano re-filling.
Read more: Why the constant earthquakes? Iceland is slowly being torn apart
According to a seismologist at the IMO the activity today in no way unusual. A number of powerful quakes have been detected in the caldera since the end of the Holuhraun eruption, but there are no signs of imminent volcanic activity.
A sharp earthquake swarm shook Iceland's largest volcano Monday morning. At 9:39 am a 3.5 magnitude quake was detected in the volcano, followed by a second 3.3 magnitude quake less than 10 minutes later, at 9:47. Half a dozen smaller quakes either followed or preceded the two more powerful tremors, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
The epicenter of the activity has been in the south-eastern part of the volcano's caldera at a significant depth. The two 3+ magnitude quakes were at a depth of 5.3 and 6.8 km (3.3 and 4.2 miles).
Read more: Quick primer on Bárðarbunga, Iceland's most powerful volcano
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. While the volcano has been relatively quiet for the past few weeks it has been significant signs of seismic activity since the end of the 2014-15 Holuhraun eruption. The activity is believed to be caused by the magma chambers of the giant sub-glacial volcano re-filling.
Read more: Why the constant earthquakes? Iceland is slowly being torn apart
According to a seismologist at the IMO the activity today in no way unusual. A number of powerful quakes have been detected in the caldera since the end of the Holuhraun eruption, but there are no signs of imminent volcanic activity.
