An earthquake measuring 3.2 on the Richter Scale took place under Eyjafjallajokull glacier in South Iceland near the active Fimmvorduhals volcano this morning.
The quake was accompanied by a number of smaller earthquakes under the northeast portion of the glacier.
According to volcanologist Einar Kristjansson, despite today’s seismic activity, all measurements still indicate a slowing down of the volcanic eruption, RUV reports.
Photos: Agust Rafnsson
Although geophysicists do not believe that the harsh earthquake which occurred underneath the Eyjafjallajökull icecap near the volcanic eruption on Fimmvörduháls is a sign of an upcoming sub-glacial eruption, seismic activity in the area will be monitored closely.
An earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter Scale shook the area of the erupting volcano next to the Eyjafjallajokull ice cap in South Iceland this afternoon.
The earthquake is the strongest to hit the area since seismic activity began to build at the volcano at the beginning of March.
Steinunn Jakobsdottir, an Icelandic Meteorological Office geologist told mbl.is that only very few of the regular quakes in the area since the beginning of last month have measured above 3 on the Richter Scale. Jakobsdottir added that it is not yet known if this afternoon’s quake is an important development or if it should be considered as a large but normal earth movement. The quake has not had any immediate effect on the erupting volcano – neither has it had an immediate impact on the nearby dormant Katla volcano.
Gas and steam jets have been emanating from the highest point of Hrunagils near the erupting volcano in southern Iceland since Monday. However, their intensity reduced last night, along with seismic activity in the area.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office speculates that the steam is slowing down because the lava has mostly finished melting the glacier ice. This morning the steam increased again in an area slightly further north.
Activity at the eruption itself has been relatively stable since yesterday morning, RUV reports.
The Fljotshlid/Fljotsdalur road has been hastily repaired in places to allow easier access for people hoping to see the volcano.
Local police warn, however, that the inner Fljotsdalur road and the Tindfjoll, Thorsmork and Hamragardaheidi roads are all closed for safety reasons. See www.vegagerdin.is for more details.
There was more seismic activity underneath the volcano in Eyjafjallajökull glacier in south Iceland last night than the night before, although it is significantly lower than during last weekend. The Civic Protection Department keeps monitoring the area.
The seismic activity around Eyjafjallajökull glacier in south Iceland, which is on top of an active volcano, remains stable but the earthquakes have decreased in strength. Around 300 smaller quakes were measured in the area last night.
The seismic activity in the area around Eyjafjallajökull glacier in south Iceland, which covers an active volcano, increased again last night with a series of smaller earthquakes measured between 3:40 and 5:20 am. The largest quake was 2.6 on the Richter scale.
After decreasing seismic trends in the past days, earthquakes are growing in strength and number in the area around Eyjafjallajökull glacier, which covers an active volcano, in south Iceland.
An earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale hit Reykjavík yesterday evening around 5:20 pm, the largest in a serious of seismic events yesterday. Although the seismic activity began around 4:30 pm in the Krýsuvík area southwest of Reykjavík, it was the residents of the capital who felt the quake most.
Iceland’s south western Reykjanes Peninsula has been experiencing a huge amount of seismic activity in recent days.
438 earthquakes have occurred in the region in the last 48 hours alone. The biggest quakes happened at 21.33 last night and at 13.35 today. Last night’s quake measured 4.9 on the Richter scale, and today’s 4.5.
Both were centred near the town of Grindavik and were clearly felt by residents in the capital, Reykjavik. The famous Blue Lagoon spa is also very near the epicentre and guests felt the full force of today’s quake, but were not asked to leave the complex. The Blue Lagoon was already closed by the time last night’s tremor took place.
No damage or injury has been reported anywhere and the quakes were much smaller than last June’s 6.3 tremor, which also killed no one.