Overview of Earthquake activity

Over 1,750 earthquakes were recorded in Iceland during December. The number of earthquakes is similar to the past two months. The highest activity was observed on the Reykjanes Peninsula and Reykjanes Ridge, followed by the Grjótarvatn area. The sixth volcanic eruption of 2024 occurred from November 20 to December 8, making it the second-largest eruption by volume in the Sundhnúkar crater row. The largest earthquake of the month was a magnitude 5.1 in Bárðarbunga. A total of nine earthquakes exceeded magnitude 3, including two in Bárðarbunga.

For more details on seismic activity, see Skjálfta Lísa.

Overall, about 1,700 earthquakes were detected across the country in November. Seismic activity was relatively low compared to other months this year, which is notable given that a volcanic eruption began on November 20th between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell. The eruption started with a little warning, with seismic activity increasing about an hour prior. Around 100 earthquakes were recorded during the swarm, the largest of which measured M1.9. Since the eruption began, there has been minimal seismic activity in the area. The eruption continues and has now become the second-largest eruption in the Sundhnúkur crater row.
The largest earthquake of the month was M3.6 in Bárðarbunga. A total of seven earthquakes above M3.0 were detected, including two in Bárðarbunga.

For more details on seismic activity, see: Skjálfta Lísa .

In the 37^th week of this year just under 500 earthquakes were detected and located by the IMO seismic network. Nearly all of the events have been manually reviewed. The seismic activity has decreased slightly since the week before when just over 570 events were located. Like before the majority of events were located on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Fagradalsfjall has notably the most activity, but moderate seismicity has been taking place there since the eruption on the Sundhnúks crater row ended on September 5^th. Other notable events were: three earthquakes around M2 on Septhember 15^th in the Hverahlíð production field in Hellisheiði in southwest Iceland, continuing activity by Lake Grjótárvatn in Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a ~M3 earthquake in Mýrdalsjökull glacier on September 9^th and a M3 event on the crater rim of the Bárðarbunga caldera in Vatnajökull glacier on September 9^th as well.

The earthquake activity can be viewed on a map on Skjálfta Lísa