Three powerful earthquakes and earthquake swarms have hit Iceland in the past 48 hours, with powerful earthquakes in two of Iceland's most powerful volcanoes as well as powerful earthquake and a large earthquake swarm south of Þingvallavatn lake in the foothills of Hrómundartindur mountain.
While all three areas are known for high levels of seismic activity it is unusual to see powerful earthquakes strike all three at the same time, as happened over the 24 hour period. A geophysicist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office tells the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV the three quakes are not connected, nor should they be interpreted as an indication of an imminent volcanic eruption or other major events at any of the three sites.
Read more: A third powerful quake in 24 hours: monster volcano Katla joins Bárðarbunga, Þingvellir
Gunnar B. Guðmundsson told RÚV that both Katla and Bárðarbunga have been very active for quite some time now, and that the quakes yesterday in Bárðarbunga and this morning in Katla do not point to a change or increase in activity, adding that the IMO sees no signs of growing volcanic activity in either volcano.
He points out that the earthquakes south of Þingvallavatn, in the foothills of the mountain Hrómundartindur are caused by different forces, tectonic plate movements. The area is also very active geothermally, and the movement of geothermal water could have contributed to the activity. The volcano Hengill, immediately to the west of Hrómundartindur, is one of the most geothermally active areas in Iceland. Two major geothermal power plants which supply Reykjavík with much of its energy and hot water are located in the foothills of Hengill.
Read more: Nearly a hundred smaller quakes have followed yesterday's powerful quake S. of Þingvellir
Gunnar dismisses the idea that the three quakes are connected. No, there is nothing to suggest the three episodes are connected. A total of 200 quakes have been detected in the past 48 hours. However, the activity has slowed down since this morning after the earthquake swarm in Katla. According to the IMO only two earthquakes have been detected since that swarm died down, one small quake in Katla at 11:13 and a second even smaller tremor in Hrómundartindur at 12:04.
Three powerful earthquakes and earthquake swarms have hit Iceland in the past 48 hours, with powerful earthquakes in two of Iceland's most powerful volcanoes as well as powerful earthquake and a large earthquake swarm south of Þingvallavatn lake in the foothills of Hrómundartindur mountain.
While all three areas are known for high levels of seismic activity it is unusual to see powerful earthquakes strike all three at the same time, as happened over the 24 hour period. A geophysicist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office tells the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV the three quakes are not connected, nor should they be interpreted as an indication of an imminent volcanic eruption or other major events at any of the three sites.
Read more: A third powerful quake in 24 hours: monster volcano Katla joins Bárðarbunga, Þingvellir
Gunnar B. Guðmundsson told RÚV that both Katla and Bárðarbunga have been very active for quite some time now, and that the quakes yesterday in Bárðarbunga and this morning in Katla do not point to a change or increase in activity, adding that the IMO sees no signs of growing volcanic activity in either volcano.
He points out that the earthquakes south of Þingvallavatn, in the foothills of the mountain Hrómundartindur are caused by different forces, tectonic plate movements. The area is also very active geothermally, and the movement of geothermal water could have contributed to the activity. The volcano Hengill, immediately to the west of Hrómundartindur, is one of the most geothermally active areas in Iceland. Two major geothermal power plants which supply Reykjavík with much of its energy and hot water are located in the foothills of Hengill.
Read more: Nearly a hundred smaller quakes have followed yesterday's powerful quake S. of Þingvellir
Gunnar dismisses the idea that the three quakes are connected. No, there is nothing to suggest the three episodes are connected. A total of 200 quakes have been detected in the past 48 hours. However, the activity has slowed down since this morning after the earthquake swarm in Katla. According to the IMO only two earthquakes have been detected since that swarm died down, one small quake in Katla at 11:13 and a second even smaller tremor in Hrómundartindur at 12:04.
