The Number Of Earthquakes In Sundhúkur Crater Row Continues To Grow

A picture taken on June 22 into the one crater that remained active until the end of the eruption that began on May 29. (Photo: Civil Defense)

Increased likelihood of magma intrusion and an eruption

Iceland Met Office

Updated 9 August at 12:30 UTC

• The number of earthquakes in the Sundhnúkur crater row continues to increase. Almost 300 earthquakes have been recorded since Monday, August 5
• Around 300 earthquakes recorded since August 5. All of them are small earthquakes
  
• Uplift and magma accumulation under Svartsengi remain like the last few days
• Hazard assessment remains unchanged. See here.
  

The number of recorded earthquakes in the Sundhnúkur crater row continues to increase. All of these are small earthquakes, with magnitudes below M2.0, and most of them below M1.0. This week, since Monday, August 5, nearly 300 earthquakes have been recorded in the area. The number of earthquakes has been increasing in recent weeks.

Deformation data and model calculations show that uplift and magma accumulation under Svartsengi remain similar to the last few days. These data indicate that magma pressure continues to increase, and this is a similar trend to the weeks leading up to previous magma intrusions and eruptions.

Overview of earthquake activity around the Sundhnúkur crater row based on reviewed earthquakes from June 3 to August 9. On the left, the location of the earthquakes is shown on a map; in the upper right, there is a graph showing the magnitude of the earthquakes; and in the lower right, there is a bar chart showing the number of earthquakes per week. The bar chart shows increasing seismic activity in recent weeks compared to the low activity during the last eruption from May 29 to June 22.

The IMO's hazard assessment remains unchanged from before. The updated hazard assessment is valid until August 13, if no changes occur. The scenarios presented in the last news update also remain unchanged.

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