The Scientific Advisory Board meets to discuss the unrest at Mt. Thorbjörn in the Reykjanes peninsula
There are indications of changing patterns in the crustal movements
On the 6th of
February geoscientists joined a Scientific Advisory Board meeting and reviewed
the current status of the unrest at Mt. Thorbjörn in the Reykjanes peninsula.
The data collected over the past week (including those measured by the recently
installed stations) were reviewed. The new results suggest that the magma body
is located at a depth of 3-5km, whereas it was previously estimated to be at
3-9km. There are indications of changing patterns in the crustal movements. The
earthquake activity has decreased over the past two days, but there are still
signs of a continuing inflation. Until now, the maximum deformation observed
from the GPS stations is about 5 centimeters.
Similar volcanic crises in the country suggest that this might be a long-term event, for which changes can occur week after week without the possibility to anticipate with certainty if the activity is resolved.
During the meeting, possible
scenarios that could be triggered in the event of an eruption have been also
considered.
In the coming days, it will be assessed whether it is necessary to increase the
number of monitoring stations in order to improve the capability to follow the
evolution of the events.
The next meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board will be held after a week, if
no changes occur.
The meeting was attended by scientists from the Icelandic Meteorological
Office, the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University and ÍSOR, together
with representatives from the Civil Protection Department of the National
Commissioner of Police, HS-Orka, the Environment Agency, Isavia and the Police
of the Suðurnes.
