The monster volcano Katla continued to tremble today, with two sharp earthquakes at 10 am and 13:17. Yesterday evening two powerful quakes shook the N.E. part of the caldera of the sub-glacial volcano. A seismologist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the quakes are not an indication of an imminent eruption.
Read more: Two of Iceland's most powerful volcanoes tremble: Earthquakes in Bárðarbunga and Katla
The earlier quake, a 3.0 magnitude quake was detected by the Icelandic Meteorological Office this morning at 10:00. The quake had its epicenter at a depth of just 100 m (330 ft) in the S.E. part of the caldera. A second more powerful 3.4 magnitude quake, at the same depth and in the same part of the caldera was then detected at 13:17. The quakes were accompanied by half a dozen smaller tremors.
The volcano has seen significant seismic activity in the past few weeks, raising concerns that an eruption might be more likely. The volcano is long overdue for an eruption, having erupted historically once every 60-80 years.
Read more: Why the constant earthquakes? Iceland is slowly being torn apart
The last eruption took place in 1918. However, a seismologist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office told RÚV that it was not at all unusual for seismic activity to pick up in Katla in early summer: As the ice cap, which covers the sub-glacial volcano, thins with warming temperatures the pressure weighing on the caldera is reduced, which in turn causes increased seismic activity.
The monster volcano Katla continued to tremble today, with two sharp earthquakes at 10 am and 13:17. Yesterday evening two powerful quakes shook the N.E. part of the caldera of the sub-glacial volcano. A seismologist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the quakes are not an indication of an imminent eruption.
Read more: Two of Iceland's most powerful volcanoes tremble: Earthquakes in Bárðarbunga and Katla
The earlier quake, a 3.0 magnitude quake was detected by the Icelandic Meteorological Office this morning at 10:00. The quake had its epicenter at a depth of just 100 m (330 ft) in the S.E. part of the caldera. A second more powerful 3.4 magnitude quake, at the same depth and in the same part of the caldera was then detected at 13:17. The quakes were accompanied by half a dozen smaller tremors.
The volcano has seen significant seismic activity in the past few weeks, raising concerns that an eruption might be more likely. The volcano is long overdue for an eruption, having erupted historically once every 60-80 years.
Read more: Why the constant earthquakes? Iceland is slowly being torn apart
The last eruption took place in 1918. However, a seismologist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office told RÚV that it was not at all unusual for seismic activity to pick up in Katla in early summer: As the ice cap, which covers the sub-glacial volcano, thins with warming temperatures the pressure weighing on the caldera is reduced, which in turn causes increased seismic activity.
