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

Monthly overview - November 2024

Overall, about 1,700 earthquakes were detected across the country in November. Seismic activity was relatively low compared to other months this year, which is notable given that a volcanic eruption began on November 20th between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell. The eruption started with a little warning, with seismic activity increasing about an hour prior. Around 100 earthquakes were recorded during the swarm, the largest of which measured M1.9. Since the eruption began, there has been minimal seismic activity in the area. The eruption continues and has now become the second-largest eruption in the Sundhnúkur crater row.
The largest earthquake of the month was M3.6 in Bárðarbunga. A total of seven earthquakes above M3.0 were detected, including two in Bárðarbunga.

For more details on seismic activity, see: Skjálfta Lísa .

Weekly overview, September 9th - 15th - week 37 2024

In the 37^th week of this year just under 500 earthquakes were detected and located by the IMO seismic network. Nearly all of the events have been manually reviewed. The seismic activity has decreased slightly since the week before when just over 570 events were located. Like before the majority of events were located on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Fagradalsfjall has notably the most activity, but moderate seismicity has been taking place there since the eruption on the Sundhnúks crater row ended on September 5^th. Other notable events were: three earthquakes around M2 on Septhember 15^th in the Hverahlíð production field in Hellisheiði in southwest Iceland, continuing activity by Lake Grjótárvatn in Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a ~M3 earthquake in Mýrdalsjökull glacier on September 9^th and a M3 event on the crater rim of the Bárðarbunga caldera in Vatnajökull glacier on September 9^th as well.

The earthquake activity can be viewed on a map on Skjálfta Lísa

Weekly overview, September 2nd - 8th - week 36 2024

In the 36th week of 2024 around 570 earthquakes detected and thereof around 560 were located on the IMO‘s seismic network. A bit fewer events than previous week. Most of the events were located in Reykjanes peninsula and in a seismic swarm near Skriða east of Mt. Skjaldbreiður and by Sandfell northwest of Skjaldbreiður. Otherwise the activity was scattered all over the country. The largest earthquake of the week was M5.0 in northeastern rim of Bárðarbunga caldera on September 3rd. The activity near Grjótárvatn decreasedm only two events were located there and nine earthquakes were detcted in and near Mt. Hekla during the week.

News on activity near the town of Grindavík can be found here.

Weekly overview, Agust 26th – September 1st - week 35 2024

In the 35th week of 2024 around 650 earthquakes detected and thereof around 570 were located on the IMO‘s seismic network. The activity was scattered all over the country but the main activity was located on Reykjanes peninsula. The largest earthquake of the week was 2.6 in magnitude on Kolbeinsey ridge and 2.5 in Askja. Ongoing activity in Bárðarbunga caldera. Six earthquakes were detcted in and near Mt. Hekla during the week.

News on activity near the town of Grindavík can be found here.