Seismic activity increases in the Sundhnúkagígar crater row
There has been considerable seismic activity at the magma chamber in the Sundhnúkagígar crater row last night and early this morning. mbl.is/Árni Sæberg
Seismic activity has intensified at the magma tunnel beneath the Sundhnúkagígar crater row, with a series of small earthquakes recorded overnight and into the early morning.
“The activity has been increasing in recent days, and 14 earthquakes have been measured since last night,” said Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir, a natural hazard specialist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, in an interview with mbl.is. Earlier this morning, four tremors were detected within just over half an hour, occurring slightly more than a kilometer northeast of Mt Sundhnúkur. While the quakes have been minor, the largest measuring 0.7 in magnitude, experts believe this could be a precursor to renewed volcanic activity.
“The activity is expected to increase steadily, and this will most likely end with a magma intrusion or even an eruption,” Kristjánsdóttir explained.
Seven eruptions since December 2023
The last eruption at the Sundhnúkagígar crater row ended on December 9, marking the longest pause in activity since the eruption cycle began in December 2023. Since then, seven eruptions have occurred in the area.
“I was quite excited last night, but with no major developments yet, we just have to wait and see what happens,” Kristjánsdóttir added.
As seismic activity continues to rise, experts are closely monitoring the region for any signs of an impending eruption.
