The biggest quake was 4.4 in magnitude
Seen over Mýrdalsjökull glacier to the west. Rax / Ragnar Axelsson
At 1.18 AM last night a series of earthquakes started in Mýrdalsjökull glacier. More than 70 quakes have been reported and six quakes of more than three in magnitude have been reported. At that time the largest quake was a magnitude 4.4. Natural hazard expert says activity might continue to fluctuate.
“The first swarm started out in about 45 minutes, then there was a slight pause, and then it started again. It’s like seventy quakes, which have been recorded since 1 AM. There were five quakes with a magnitude of three and one with a magnitude of over four, and the biggest one with a magnitude of 4.4 at 2.45 AM. No turmoil or anything like this was measured, and quakes have also been felt in the region, mainly in Þórsmörk,” Bjarki Kaldalón Friis reports to mbl.is. It is worth mentioning that another quake was detected while Bjarki was chatting with a reporter, and initial results seemed to indicate that it was over three in magnitude.
The activity has been fluctuating in Mýrdalsjökull and is expected to continue to do so. Map/The Met Office
“This is related to a geothermal system located under Mýrdalsjökull glacier, and we’re not expecting an eruption or anything like that,”´he says.
Nothing to indicate an increase in electrical conductivity or water level
He says geothermal water can leak out at Markarfljót or Múlakvísl due to the activity but as it is, there is no visible sign in the instruments indicating an increase in electrical conductivity or rise in the water level.
“There has been activity in Mýrdalsjökull glacier for a few weeks now, it’s just the same activity that continues there but most likely related to the geothermal systems that are underneath the glacier,” says Friis.
“It’s not over, the activity fluctuates up and down like that,” he concludes.
