Video (1:26 min) from Grindavik: deep crack in road; vertical offset sideways:
https://www.visir.is/k/19753e84-15e2-4b8d-ad0f-0f62a6481576-1699886659509/sig-og-sprungur-vid-ithrotthus

One reason for there not being any volcanos shown on many maps of the Rekjanes peninsular is that the whole area is effectively one large volcanic region - much of the land surface is less than a few thousand years old, indeed the area around Grindavik is only about a thousand years old. There are at least three parallel chains of volcanic craters running north east across the peninsular, with large relatively flat lava flows between them (both Keflavik and Reykjavik are built on such "old" flows). The last "major" eruption in the area was only about 800 years ago, but there have been a number of very minor eruptions since then. Further of course is the shear amount of geothermal activity, some of which is harnessed by large power (both electrical and thermal) stations, some as tourist attractions (The Blue Lagoon), and some just adds a very indelicate stench to the air in the area.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

If you look at a map of Iceland and the 'Mid-Atlantic ridge' you can see this not so much a volcano and more of a rising of magma filling it the gap between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates as it widens.

If you look at a map of Iceland and the 'Mid-Atlantic ridge' you can see this not so much a volcano and more of a rising of magma filling it the gap between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates as it widens.

Bleak prospects for Grindavik then. Hopefully, another large crack occurs far away from town which then gets 'filled up'.

Drone view of the crack within Grindavik (2:26min):
https://www.visir.is/k/371065be-ff43-448a-8d22-91528ea48bf8-1700167016332/sjadu-sprungurnar-i-grindavik-ur-lofti

Iceland may spray water onto lava to save town in the event of volcanic eruption.

Icelandic authorities said they were considering pumping water onto any lava that spews out if a volcanic eruption threatens the evacuated town of Grindavik.

Authorities would use the water to cool and divert the flow of lava to protect the fishing port of 4,000 people on Iceland's southern Reykjanes peninsula.

Residents were ordered out on November 11 after magma shifting under the Earth's crust caused hundreds of earthquakes — a warning of a likely volcanic eruption. Thousands of smaller tremors have shaken the region since.

But in a bulletin, the Icelandic meteorological office said the probability of a sudden eruption "is decreasing every day and is considered low" due to declining magma flow and seismic activity.

Authorities said that a state of emergency in place since November 11 would be lifted at 11am on Thursday local time, or 10pm AEDT.

Grindavik residents will be allowed to return in coming days to collect belongings, a civil protection statement added.

Civil protection and European experts will assess the possibility of "using high volume pumping to cool down the lava to protect the town of Grindavik and important infrastructures," Vidir Reynisson, Iceland's head of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told reporters.

The method was used in 1973, when a fissure erupted just 150 metres from the town centre on the island of Heimaey, surprising locals at dawn.....

Stay safe.

But in a bulletin, the Icelandic meteorological office said the probability of a sudden eruption "is decreasing every day and is considered low" due to declining magma flow and seismic activity.

Just had a look at the seismic data https://vafri.is/quake/ and it has certainly decreased. It is now saying 20 events in the last 6 hours, a week ago it was more like 300 in 6hrs.

It seems that the pressure is building up again.

Iceland is bracing for a possible volcanic eruption and the “most likely” place is now next to one of the country’s biggest tourist attractions.

Stay safe.

Cheers.

Looks like there has been an eruption in the last few hour, to the East of the Blue Lagoon, and NNE of Grindavik. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqF5YQRdhtw

There was a quake over 4 and there is now over 300 events in the last 6 hours.

Notice a while ago. Longer than the one last year. Understand it's got greater volume too. Flowing both directions of the fissure.

Northwest China cops a shaking.

Rescuers battle sub-zero temperatures as more than 120 killed by China’s deadliest quake in nearly a decade.

At least 126 people were killed and hundreds more injured after an earthquake hit northwest China, state media reported Tuesday, as rescue teams scrambled to reach survivors in sub-zero temperatures.

The quake, China’s deadliest in nearly a decade, rocked Jishishan county in Gansu Province late Monday night, damaging houses and roads. Rescuers raced to search for survivors trapped under rubble, while residents rushed outdoors, huddling overnight in the bitter winter cold.

As of Tuesday morning, the quake has killed 113 people, injured 536 others and damaged more than 155,393 houses in Gansu, CCTV said. Rescue workers have pulled 67 people from the rubble and evacuated 685 others from the province, according to the state media outlet.

In the neighboring province of Qinghai, 13 people have died and 182 were injured, with 20 more still missing as of noon, according to local officials.

The quake struck just before midnight while many would have been sleeping in their homes. It measured 5.9-magnitude at the shallow depth just over 6 miles, according to the United States Geological Survey. The China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) gave a slightly higher reading of 6.2 magnitude.

The epicenter is located close to the border between Gansu and Qinghai, a mountainous region on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. The quake was followed by nine aftershocks at magnitude 3 and above as of the morning, according to the CENC.....

Iceland volcano eruption in 'state of equilibrium' as scientists assess activity



It estimated the lava discharge from the fissure to be "hundreds of cubic meters per second,"

Another idiot caught where they shouldn't have been. :-(

Hiker rescued from near lava-spewing Iceland volcano after getting lost.

A hiker has been rescued from near the spewing Grindavik volcano after he became lost and sent a desperate SOS signal to a passing plane.

Rescue teams sprung into action Tuesday night after a pilot flying over the eruption noticed light flashes that he recognised as a distress sign.

Fortunately the hiker was found, cold and exhausted, but alive as thrill seekers continue to venture too close for comfort, The Sun reports....

Iceland,
Massive increase in seismic activity in the last few hours, Running at over 100/hr at the moment.
Lights went out in half of Grindavik about 2 hours ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-5QeLIn1FA, and the strongest tremors look to be under the town.
https://vafri.is/quake/

Iceland.
Eruption started about half an hour ago.
Multi-cam view. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=804nPrAUAxg

Iceland.
Another interesting view, with expert explanations, from Shawn Willsey, a geology professor in Southern Idaho. He has access to drone footage from one of the Icelandic operators.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPm-J2YqzZY

Three dead as 7.1 earthquake strikes near China’s border with Kyrgyzstan.

Three people have died after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake rocked a mountainous and remote part of China’s far western Xinjiang region early Tuesday.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that a further five people were injured and 12,426 evacuated from affected areas.

The quake struck Wushi county, also known as Uqturpan county, in Aksu prefecture near the Kyrgyzstan border shortly after 2 a.m. local time, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

Strong tremors caused two houses to collapse and downed two major power lines near the epicenter, though electricity was quickly restored, according to Xinhua, and tremors were felt in Central Asian countries hundreds of miles away.....

Iceland is having another go - this one started more or less where the December 2023 one was, but on slightly higher ground. A couple of roads have been cut, and it's a bit close to a power plant for comfort.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

4.3 magnitude earthquake strikes Gippsland overnight, felt by thousands in Melbourne

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Grant
Darwin NT

Does Hawaii count as part of the Ring of Fire? It's really not on the ring but it did have a 5.7 earthquake overnight. No tsunami is expected and current reports say no damage or impacts on Mauna Loa and Kilauea.

"Officials first put the quake’s magnitude at 6.3, but then lowered it to 5.7.

There have also been at least eight small quakes, apparently aftershocks, in the Pahala area.

Residents on the Big Island say the quake shook items from shelves and threw pictures from walls."