During the night it has been much quieter in the area, with fewer and fewer tremors. In the three most recent eruptions – 2021, 2022 and this summer, earthquake activity decreased before, says Björn Lund, who is a seismologist at Uppsala University.
— It is a bit unusual, but it has been very clear in the previous eruptions at Reykjanes that the activity has decreased before the eruptions have started.
What differs from previous eruptions is that the magma penetration is much greater and over a much longer distance.
— It seems that more magma came up this time than in the previous eruptions.
Lund adds that the eruption is taking place in a much worse place. Partly because of the proximity to the community of Grindavik, but also because there are heat and power plants in the area.
An eruption on land also means that you have to take into account sulfur dioxide gas that penetrates up.
— It is very important that you keep an eye on the weather and wind directions so that you can warn people to stay indoors and close windows and ventilation.
Since the night was quiet, they are now waiting for a new analysis of so-called deformation measurements of how the earth’s surface rises.
— It has decreased in the last 24 hours, the analyzes showed yesterday. It seems that it is calming down a bit, it is not at all the same rapid penetration as during Friday and Saturday. That way it’s calmer right now.
— But it can be a bit of the calm before the storm.