Topline
Iceland’s national weather service warned of increased seismic activity through the weekend after thousands of earthquakes hit the country this week, as officials prepare for possible evacuations amid fears of volcanic eruptions.
The country’s national weather service warned of increased seismic activity because “magma … [+] accumulation is in progress.”
Key Facts
Nearly 800 earthquakes were recorded in Iceland between midnight and 2 p.m. local time Friday after a “dense swarm” of seismic activity, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), which warned of earthquakes up to magnitude 5.5 as magma accumulation continues underground.
The agency said an earthquake of 5.0 magnitude — the largest since seismic activity began on October 25 — was measured by Fagradalsfjall, a volcano located about 19 miles from the capital city of Reykjavik.
About 1,400 earthquakes were recorded in the 24-hour period ending at noon yesterday, the agency said, with earthquakes measured up to a magnitude of 4.8.
An additional 3,400 earthquakes were recorded between Sunday and Wednesday, according to the agency.
The seismic activity is “expected” as magma accumulation is in progress, the agency said, adding that increasingly larger earthquakes “does not necessarily mean” an increased rate of magma accumulation, which could cause volcanic eruptions if pressure is high enough.
A representative of the Icelandic Civil Protection Agency has been posted to the town of Grindavik to prepare for a possible evacuation in the event of “magma appearing to rise to the surface,” according to the BBC, though the official said there was no imminent need for evacuation.
Tangent
Blue Lagoon, a popular geothermal spa in Grindavik, closed earlier this week “after many days of seismic activity in the area” that included one night of “powerful earthquakes,” which caused “disruption to our guests and prolonged strain on our employees.” The spa will remain closed until 7 a.m. on November 16.
Big Number
26,000. That’s how many earthquakes Iceland experiences each year on average, according to Perlan, a Reykjavik-based natural history museum. More than 20,000 tremors have been recorded by the IMO since seismic activity began late last month.
Key Background
Iceland — a country of fewer than 400,000 people — experiences an increased number of earthquakes each year because of its position on a tectonic plate boundary, according to Perlan, which said “earthquakes are a fact of life” in the country. Most of the earthquakes this year are smaller magnitudes, ranging from magnitudes below 1 up to a high of 5.0 — not strong enough to cause major damage. Measuring earthquakes has been key for Icelandic scientists to prepare for possible volcanic eruptions, including Fagradalsfjall’s eruption in 2021, the museum said. That volcano has erupted each year since then, with the latest eruption on July 10. Iceland has about 130 volcanoes, as the country is located in a region with “abnormally high magma activity,” according to the country’s tourism website.
Key Background
Blue Lagoon In Iceland Temporarily Closes After Thousands Of Earthquakes (New York Times)
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon Closed As 1,000 Earthquakes Hit In 24 Hours (CNN)
