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Overview of Earthquake activity

Earthquake activity throughout the country is described in a weekly summary that is written by a Natural Hazard Specialist. The weekly summary is published on the web every Tuesday. It covers the activity of the previous week in all seismic areas and volcanic systems in the country. If earthquake swarms are ongoing or significant events such as larger earthquakes have occurred during the week, they are specifically discussed.

Weekly overview

Weekly overview September 11th - 17th 2023

Summary

Around 960 earthquakes were detected last week by the IMO's SIL system, of wich around 520 events have been manually reviewed. This is a slight increase from last week where around 820 earthquakes were detected. Seismic activity was rather well distributed over the countries most active areas, including Reykjanespeninsula, Mt Skjaldbreið, Mýrdalsjökull glacier, western Vatnajökull glacier and the Grímsey fracture zone.

The largest earthquake this week was of M3.8 on Kolbeinsey ridge on September 13^th but in the seismic swarm near Eldey island on September 11^th an earthquake of M3.2 was detected. Five earthquakes were located at and near Mt. Hekla.

Weekly Overview 4 -10 September 2023

Around 820 earthquakes were detected last week by the IMO's SIL system, of wich around 660 events have been manually reviewed. This is a slight increase from last week where around 500 earthquakes were detected. Seismic activity was rather well distributed over the countries most active areas, including Reykjanespeninsula, Mt Skjaldbreið, Mýrdalsjökull glacier, western Vatnajökull glacier and the Grímsey fracture zone.

The largest and only earthquake above magnitude 3 this week was located 2 km west of Kleifarvatn on the 9^th of September and measured M3.8. A swarm of over 100 small earthquakes followed. The earthquake could be felt in surrounding settlements.

Weekly overview, 28. August – 3. September - week 35.

Around 500 earthquakes were detected last week by the IMO's SIL system. This is rather quiet compared to the past few weeks and can possibly be partly attributed to the first low pressure system of the fall that arrived on friday evening. Seismic activity was rather well distributed over the countries most active areas, including Reykjanespeninsula, Mýrdalsjökull glacier, western Vatnajökull glacier and the Grímsey fracture zone. A jökulhlaup (glacial outburst flood) from the eastern Skaftá cauldon also started on 28. August, reaching its maximum two days lated. Several tremor pulses were observed in western Vatnajökull during this time that can be linked to boiling in the cauldron.

4 earthquakes above magnitude 3 were measured during this week, two M3.1on 1. september, on on Kolbeinsey ridge and the other at Reykjanestá, one M3.7 in Mýrdalsjökull on 29. August and an M3.9 in Bárðarbunga on 3. September.

Weekly Overview 21 - 27 August 2023, Week 34

Around 700 earthquakes were located in Iceland in the last week, compared to 1000 last week. The activity was mainly on the Reykjanes peninsula and in the North part, near Grímsey.

The largest earthquake of the week was a M3.1, 13 km East of Grímsey on August 22^nd at 14:57. An M3.0 earthquake was located in Bárðarbunga on August 23^rd at 17:30. Two minor earthquakes were located near Hekla in the week.